The team was due for a letdown so let’s hope they do!
As the Vikings get ready to play the Rams in Los Angeles or Arizona (hopefully), the debate about extending Sam Darnold is ratcheting up a notch especially after his bad game last week. I think it is fantastic and I love to argue (er., debate) all sides. I could see them keeping either Darnold or Jones to go with JJ. I would be very surprised if they did not keep either and went with JJ and Mullens and some other veteran backup. That would be cray cray. I mean, you win 14 games and then decide to turn it over to a rookie? That is having brass cojones. I doubt that happens.
Looking to the Rams game, Darnold is going to need to get his head on straight because as many have seen already, he left some throws in the red zone that would have changed the trajectory of this game.
If Sam Darnold makes these 3 easy throws…we are talking way
He simply must follow the play call assuming the play call was to the open receiver that Chase Daniel points out. Why he brain farted on those plays and all day is a mystery? But, to be fair and to stay consistent, I use to criticize Cousins for not coming up big when you need it the most. Sam Darnold has a chance to redeem himself and prove he can perform when the stakes are the highest. Despite the left side of the offensive line also playing like horse manure, there were plays out there. It also shows the KOC did, in fact, call some good plays in the red zone.
I suspect, as does many others, the Rams will attempt to duplicate the defensive scheme the Lions used this past week. Does blitzing and hitting Darnold early cause him to get and stay rattled throughout the entire game? Could be.
Do the Rams have the cornerbacks that can press like the Lions? A side note. KOC needs to speak to the refs about illegal contact before the Rams game. I do not know if the Rams can execute as well as the Lions did and I do not think the Vikings will fail to make corrections.
Overall, the entire offense needs to play better and after winning 9 straight games, they may have been riding high and needed to get a kick in the butt.
On defense, the Rams will be tough to stop. Can the Vikings handle Puka and Kupp better this game?
I am nervous but feel the team will play a lot better after being embarrassed this past week.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
NFL picks, score predictions Wild-Card Round: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Vikings 20, Rams 17
Iyer: “The Vikings lost to only two teams this season, the Lions (twice) and Rams. Before falling in Week 18 in Detroit, they lost back-to-back to Detroit and Los Angeles in Weeks 7 and 8. The Vikings just struggled playing all-out with Sam Darnold, while the Rams still looked good resting Matthew Stafford and other starters. That said, the Rams’ offense is a bigger issue than their defense in the second matchup, and this surprise low-scoring game will go to the savvier group in the rematch.”
Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Rams 28, Vikings 27
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Vikings 21, Rams 20
Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: Vikings 27, Rams 24
Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network: Vikings 24, Rams 23
Vikings-Rams preview: 14-win Minnesota opens up NFL playoffs on the road
At 14-3, the Vikings have the most wins of any wild-card team in NFL history. The good news is the previous record holder, the 1999 Tennessee Titans at 13-3, advanced to the Super Bowl. The bad news is the one loss the Vikings had to someone other than the Lions this season came against the Rams.
X factor
The Rams aren’t great at cornerback, and that’s not the best news against the Vikings. Minnesota has perhaps the best receiver in the NFL, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison is a game-breaker as well. When the Vikings and Rams faced each other in Week 8, Jefferson caught eight of nine targets for 115 yards. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon, who played just nine snaps in that first meeting, has been playing well late in the season. The Rams will be hoping that Witherspoon and Darious Williams can at least keep Jefferson and Addison from breaking the game open.
How the Vikings can win
Sam Darnold has had a very good season. It’s also true that in the Vikings’ biggest game, he had a rough night. Darnold was off most of the Vikings’ Week 18 game against the Lions, missing many reads and being inaccurate on several throws, particularly in the red zone. It’s unfair to Darnold to discount all he did in the regular season just because he struggled in last weekend’s loss to Detroit. But he has to rebound fast. If Darnold plays like he did most of the season, the Vikings can make a long playoff run. There will be a big spotlight on Darnold after he struggled a week ago.
How the Rams can win
Under Sean McVay, the Rams have been known for their offensive prowess. That’s what makes their late-season slide so strange. In Weeks 15-17, the Rams scored 12, 19 and 13 points. They averaged just 267 yards per game in that stretch, despite having Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams healthy. In Week 18 the Rams sat starters, and maybe that helps, but Los Angeles went from being a very good offense when healthy to suddenly being unable to find the end zone. The good news for the Rams is their defense allowed 6, 9 and 9 points when the offense fell into a slump. The Rams’ defense improved late but it’s not an elite unit. If the offense remains in a slump, it will be hard for the Rams to make a run. And it won’t be easy to break out against the Vikings, whose defense has been very good under coordinator Brian Flores.
Prediction
There has to be some letdown for the Vikings. They were on the verge of a 15-2 season, NFC North title and a bye week as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But they lost in a Week 18 game that became a blowout in the second half and now have to play at the Rams on wild-card weekend.
Even if the Vikings don’t have a hangover, it’s not like the Rams are an easy opponent. The Vikings went 14-1 against everyone but the Lions, and the one blemish was a 30-20 loss to the Rams in Week 8. Sean McVay rested his starters for a reason last weekend.
The Vikings have been disrespected all season and it seems unfair to doubt them going into the playoffs after they went 14-3, but this is a tough spot for Minnesota. Rams 24, Vikings 21
REPORT: Rams May be in Trouble vs. Vikings in Wild Card Round
Bill Bender of the Sporting News released his predictions for every playoff game this weekend. He believes the Rams will get the job done and upset the Vikings.
“Here is the “upset” of the week,” Bender said. “The Rams are home underdogs against a Minnesota team coming off a brutal loss against the Lions. Los Angeles beat Minnesota 30-20 in Week 8. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua combined for 12 catches for 157 yards and a TD in that game. Mathew Stafford had consistent home-road splits this season, and the Rams can win another close game here.
“How will Sam Darnold respond after a brutal Week 18 performance against the [Detroit] Lions? This is his first playoff start, and it will be heavily scrutinized. The Rams were 3-3 S/U as an underdog of four points or less this season, and we think they will generate just enough against the Vikings’ second-ranked run defense to spring the upset.
Rams Must End Troubling Trend in Order to Beat Vikings
The Los Angeles Rams are one of the hottest teams in the NFL heading into the playoffs, as they went 9-3 over their last 12 games to secure a Wild Card berth.
Awaiting the Rams is a Monday night date with the Minnesota Vikings, and while Los Angeles will be the host, it’s certainly not an easy matchup.
Los Angeles ranked 15th in yardage and 20th in scoring this season, proving how pedestrian the offense really was this season in spite of being rather loaded with weapons.
What’s more, the Rams have only scored three first-quarter touchdowns all year long. Ironically enough, one of those came during Los Angeles’ win over Minnesota back on Oct. 24, but this is a troubling trend that must end in the playoffs.
The Rams averaged just 1.8 first-quarter points per game in 2024, which ranked 31st in the league. Meanwhile, the Vikings registered 6.4 first-quarter points per game, which was good enough for second.
Falling behind early against Minnesota’s stingy defense—which allowed only 19.5 points per game during the regular season—is a recipe for disaster.
The last time Los Angeles scored a first-period touchdown was against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 8. Following that win, the Rams went three straight games without even scoring in the opening frame at all, which is very problematic.
If Los Angeles wants to beat the Vikings next Monday, it must get off to a good start, which would be the exact opposite of what the Rams have done all season.
Early Vikings vs Rams Predictions, Picks, and Odds for MNF Wild Card Weekend
The Los Angeles Rams have been that team no one wants to face in the postseason for a few weeks now. Los Angeles surprised many with a strong second half of the schedule, losing only three of its final dozen games – one of which came while sitting starters in Week 18.
The validity of Minnesota was put into question in Week 18, namely the ability of QB Sam Darnold to lift this team up in tough situations. Darnold looked terrible in the loss to Detroit on Sunday night, with the Vikings just not able to crack the end zone.
They finished with nine points on a night in which they went 0-for-4 in the red zone. Red-zone offense has been a soft spot for this offense all season, with the Vikes sitting 19th in TD percentage on the season, and that output dropping away from home.
The Rams’ defense has been far from elite in 2024, but they do stiffen up at the right times. Los Angeles boasts the fifth-lowest TD rate allowed inside the red zone, and with a total ticking close to 50 points, turning away touchdowns could keep them within striking distance.
Los Angeles doesn’t bring a lot of pressure and runs zone coverage at one of the highest rates. That hasn’t stopped foes from hitting home-run balls, with L.A. allowing the eighth most completions for 20-plus yards. Minnesota has connected for the second-most 20-plus passes on the year, highlighted by all-world WR Justin Jefferson.
Eagles sign former Vikings first round pick ahead of wild card game vs. Packers
The Eagles are adding depth to the secondary ahead of Wild Card weekend, signing Lewis Cine to the active roster. The former Vikings first-round pick and Byron Young were added to the roster, and his practice window was opened.
Eagles $5.1 million stud defender predicted to leave Philadelphia for Vikings
The interior defensive line figures to be a spot the Vikings look to upgrade in 2025, with running back, safety and cornerback also on the list due to the team’s rash of soon-to-be expiring contracts. With that in mind, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report predicts Minnesota will make a bold move in free agency, signing stud defensive tackle Milton Williams away from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Here was Holder’s take on Williams potentially switching from one NFC contender to another:
It seems highly likely that Byron Murphy Jr. and/or Stephon Gilmore will get re-signed ahead of free agency. With that assumption, adding an interior pass-rusher should be Minnesota’s biggest priority in the offseason as the position group could use a boost. Also, Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery and Jihad Ward are impending free agents. Williams should be the club’s top target on the open market. The 25-year-old has five sacks (11.5 in four seasons) and 39 total pressures through Week 17 this season, earning an elite 90.6 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus that ranks second at the position.
Vikings $17 million breakout defender predicted to leave Minnesota for Lions
If the Lions fail to retain Davis or want to add another starting-level player to the secondary in the offseason, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder predicts general manager Brad Holmes will sign Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. in 2025 free agency.
Cornerback was one of the top needs in Detroit last offseason. and that will carry over into 2025. Carlton Davis is an impending free agent and Terrion Arnold has taken his lumps as a rookie this year. Even if Davis gets re-signed, the defense could use another veteran to make another Super Bowl run. Murphy is coming off a career year and will be one of the top corners available on the open market.
Mel Kiper proposes Giants trade idea to land Vikings $22 million QB
As Kiper and host Evan Canty were discussing the Vikings’ potential plans with Sam Darnold, the long-time draft expert suggested McCarthy would be on the trade block. Asked whether the Giants should trade the No. 3 pick to Minnesota for McCarthy, Kiper gave an emphatic yes.
As for whether the Vikings would make that trade, Kiper’s answer was more non-committal in nature.
“I don’t think the Vikings can know that right now,” Kiper said. “If I’m the Vikings, I’m letting this all work out, play out because you’ve got a 27-year-old Sam Darnold look really good for (Kevin) O’Connell. If he goes through the playoffs and is playing really well, Sam Darnold is your quarterback. Then, you could potentially look at trading J.J.”
REPORT: Raiders Predicted to Swing Stunning QB Trade
The Raiders were hoping to have a shot at either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward in the NFL Draft, but thanks to a couple of late-season wins, that dream just got a heck of a lot more challenging.
Las Vegas has fallen all the way down to sixth in the NFL Draft order, which means the Raiders will have to trade up in order to secure one of the two signal-callers.
Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac has revealed a fascinating prediction for the Raiders, projecting that they will be able to acquire J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings.
“Prediction: The Vikings apply a $39M+ franchise tag on Sam Darnold, then trade J.J. McCarthy to the Las Vegas Raiders days before the NFL Draft,” Ginnitti wrote. “Darnold and the Vikings agree on a 4 year, $196M extension before the July 15 deadline that includes $110M guaranteed.”
While Week 18 didn’t go as planned for the Minnesota Vikings, they still finished 14-3, and one of the best teams in the league all while having Sam Darnold under center. Looking ahead at 2025, the Vikings have a quarterback position decision to make.
After drafting JJ McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft, it seemed as though he was going to be the future of the franchise for Minnesota. After suffering a torn meniscus in his knee during the preseason, McCarthy has missed his entire rookie season. This allowed Darnold to step up and take over the starting spot, a role in which he has not looked back on. With how Darnold has commanded the support of the locker room, played at an MVP level, and having the experience factor, it would be ideal for the Vikings to bring him back. For McCarthy, the Vikings can trade him and get immense return value with the 2025 NFL Draft class being weak at the quarterback position.
With that in mind, that is where the Cleveland Browns come into play.
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