The Minnesota Vikings face the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL Wild Card game played under the pale of a much larger story. The game, originally scheduled for SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday night, has been moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, due to the deadly wildfires that have devasted the LA area.
These still-raging fires have affected many members of both teams. Their own homes and their family and friends’ homes are threatened or have been engulfed in the devasting flames. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has said that wherever we land is where we’ll play. Of course, events in the West will still be prevalent in people’s minds. With all that, let’s preview this exciting matchup.
Vikings Offense vs. Rams Defense
The Vikings offense has flourished with Sam Darnold at the helm under the tutelage of O’Connell, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, and quarterback coach Josh McCown. The comeback player of the year finished his regular season with 35 touchdown passes and 4,319 passing yards and has been cool and calm in the pocket and in the locker room. Justin Jefferson (JJ) unbelievably gets better every game and he has been rewarded for his efforts by being named unanimously to the AP’s All-Pro Team.
With all of the attention devoted to JJ by opposing defenses, fellow wide receiver Jordan Addison (63 receptions, 9 touchdowns) has flourished this year. Minnesota is blessed with a bevy of talented receivers, including running back Aaron Jones (51 catches), tight end T.J. Hockenson (41 receptions), and wideout Jalen Nailor (six touchdown receptions). Former Green Bay Packers running back Jones has rejuvenated a dormant ground game with 1,138 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Cam Akers was brought in to spell Jones, and he was effective in rushing for 4.6 yards per carry.
Despite a season-ending injury to Pro-Bowl tackle Christian Darrisaw and guard Ed Ingram’s disappointing season, the offensive line held together. The Vikings finished ninth in the league with 5,898 offensive yards in 2025. They must correct some red zone deficiencies, but the Brian O’Neill-led line gave Darnold ample time to throw and was successful at creating running lanes for Jones and Akers.
The young, Aaron Brown-less Rams defense struggled early in the season. In their first five games, Chris Shula’s defense surrendered 25.5 points and 141 rushing yards a game. Their youth and inexperience were evident, especially in a game at Arizona, where they were drubbed by a score of 41-10. Since then, they have limited opponents to 17.6 points and 118 rushing yards per game.
The difference? Some intense film work and the maturity of five standout rookies. Pro-Bowl-bound edge rusher Jared Verse led all NFL rookies in quarterback pressures (7.6) and added 4.5 sacks and 66 tackles to his stat sheet. Fellow Florida State teammate Braden Fiske led all NFL rookies in sacks with 8.5. Former LSU Linebacker Omar Speights tied Verse for the fourth most tackles on the season with 66. Veteran linebacker Christian Rozeboom led the team in tackles with 133, followed by safety Quentin Lake with 111.
Rookie safeties Jaylen McCollough and Kamren Kinchens lead the Rams in interceptions with four. And they have both have taken picks off the way to the house for defensive touchdowns. Shula has employed a speed rush package coined the “Cheetah Package” to put additional pressure on opposing quarterbacks. As the Rams’ offense has faltered down the stretch, their defense is the biggest reason they are a playoff-bound team.
Rams Offense vs. Vikings Defense
Ram’s head coach Sean McVay’s offense disappeared at times this season, averaging only 21.6 points per game: the lowest-scoring average team for a playoff team. When Los Angeles played the Vikings in October, Rams’ wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua ate up the physically challenged Vikings’ secondary en route to 30-20. Down the stretch, quarterback Matthew Stafford has been out of sync with his two talented receivers.
Stafford has to get back on the same page as Kupp (67 receptions) and Nacua (79 catches) for the Rams to have a chance in this game. Fortunately, wide-out Demarcus Robinson (seven touchdown receptions) stepped up to fill some of that gap. And Yeoman running back Kyren Williams had another outstanding season rushing for 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Rams will be aided in their quest for points by the return of right tackle Rob Havenstein, who missed two games with a shoulder injury.
The word on defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ Vikings defense has been pressure. Minnesota has blitzed far less than last season due to the tenacity of defensive ends Jonathan Greenard (12.5) and Andrew Van Ginkle (11 sacks). They and backup defensive end Patrick Jones II (7 sacks) and linebackers Blake Cashman (4.5 sacks) and Ivan Pace Jr. (3 sacks) continue to put the heat on opposition quarterbacks. Cashman, Pace, and safeties Josh Mettellus (103 tackles) and Cam Bynum (96 tackles) and the big bodies up front were so proficient in their work that the Vikings finished second in the league this season in total rushing yards allowed with 1.588.
Minnesota’s maligned secondary has nonetheless made some big plays this season, with Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy (6 interceptions) leading the way. Mettellus and Bynum could easily have been Pro Bowl selections, and Cashman has been quite effective in shutting down the short middle zones of the Viking’s pass defense. If Minnesota keeps the heat on Stafford, they will allow cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and safety Harrison Smith to play their physical brand of football. Avoiding having these three cover Kupp and Nacua one-on-one will be key to the Viking’s success on defense today.
Closing
Although this is a pivotal game for both teams as they continue their playoff paths, all hearts and minds will also be on the victims, survivors, and first responders of the Los Angeles wildfires. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragic situation.
