Rams overwhelm Vikings 27-9 in wild-card playoff game moved to Arizona because of LA wildfires
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) as Jared Verse (8) dives on during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) celebrates his sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold with Byron Young (0) during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske (55) celebrate a sack on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) reacts to a sack on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws as Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) defends during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts to a Davis Allen touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen (87) scores on a 13-yard touchdown reception as Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) defends during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Kinchens (26) defends a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, left, and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talk after an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) celebrates a defensive stop against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (92) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (91) celebrates sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Darnold tried to step up in the pocket to find a receiver but there was nowhere to go. The blue and yellow wall that was the Los Angeles Rams’ defense closed too fast.WWWWW
Akhello Witherspoon got there first, knocking the Minnesota quarterback to the ground as the ball popped loose. Jared Verse scooped it up and the Rams faithful roared their approval in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium as the rookie ran untouched for a 57-yard touchdown.
Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was right there with them.
“Our defense,” he said, “just went crazy.”
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Los Angeles — the football team, but especially the city — has had a tough week as wildfires have decimated large portions of the metropolitan area. The Rams channeled all that sorrow and uncertainty into a dominant defensive performance, sacking Darnold an NFL playoff record-tying nine times to win 27-9 Monday night in an NFC wild-card game that was moved from Southern California to Arizona.
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