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Vikings-Rams takeaways: Rams rediscover Super Bowl form
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) practices before the NFC wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings at State Farm Stadium. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Vikings-Rams takeaways: Rams rediscover Super Bowl form in wire-to-wire win

The Rams closed wild-card weekend with an emphatic 27-9 win against the Vikings, setting Los Angeles up for a road trip to the Eagles on Sunday.

Here are our takeaways from the Rams' first playoff win since their Super Bowl LVI triumph. 

Knee-jerk reaction: Rams are a legitimate threat to win the NFC

In 2021, the Rams began their run to the Super Bowl with a dominant 34-11 home win against the Cardinals. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was efficient, going 13-of-17 for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was staunch, scoring a touchdown and holding the Cardinals to 183 total yards.

Los Angeles followed a similar script against the Vikings in a Rams "home" game played in Arizona due to the Southern California wildfires. Stafford was brilliant, and the defense had one of its best games of the season, scoring on a fumble return for a touchdown and recording nine sacks, the most in a playoff game in franchise history.

Per The 33rd Team, the Rams became the first team since at least 2000 with six sacks and a defensive score in the first half of a playoff game.

The Rams began the season 1-4 and were outscored by 19 points in the regular season. It's remarkable they're even here. Now that they are, it will be hard to remove them.

Game MVP: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford

Stafford was exquisite from the start. The Rams received the opening kickoff, and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft was 6-of-6 on Los Angeles' first possession, including an incredible seam throw to tight end Tyler Higbee.

He finished the game 19-of-27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

Stafford moved well, rolling out to his left and throwing back toward the middle of the field to an open running back Kyren Williams for the game's first score.

Per the NFL's social media account, during the Rams' first 10 plays, Stafford was 9-of-9 for 104 yards and a touchdown.

With his sharp start, he set the tone for the win. The rest of the Rams followed his lead.

Quote of the day: 'Even the easy throws are getting difficult'

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had a horrible game. In his potential last game with the franchise, he was 25-of-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a lost fumble. Darnold was also sacked nine times, tied for the most by a quarterback in NFL playoff history. (h/t Stathead)

With the game still competitive in the second quarter, Darnold failed to get enough on the ball on a throw toward the sideline to wide receiver Jordan Addison, and Rams defensive back Cobie Durant made the interception.

Per ESPN Vikings reporter Kevin Seifert, Darnold had eight off-target throws, his second-most this season, following 13 off-target passes against the Lions in Week 18.

"Even the easy throws are getting difficult," ESPN "Monday Night Football" color commentator Troy Aikman said in the third quarter after Darnold failed to connect with running back Aaron Jones on a screen pass.

Darnold revived his career this season by leading the Vikings to 14 wins and posting career-highs in passing yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and completion percentage (66.2 percent). Still, in Minnesota's last two games — its most important ones this season — he flopped, looking more like the quarterback who couldn't stick with the Jets or Panthers.

For someone about to enter free agency, Darnold made a troubling final impression.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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