INGLEWOOD, Calif. — — Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have missed many of the season resulting from harm, and the Los Angeles Rams’ dismal file mirrored it.
When each star receivers got here again for a similar prime-time showcase, they offered precisely what Matthew Stafford and the Rams have been lacking all 12 months — and it was one thing the Minnesota Vikings could not match.
Kupp caught a landing go and Nacua had 106 yards receiving of their returns to the lineup, and Stafford handed for 279 yards and 4 TDs within the Los Angeles Rams ‘ 30-20 victory over the Vikings on Thursday evening.
Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes from Stafford for the Rams (3-4), who received back-to-back video games for the primary time this season with 386 yards from an offense that seemed exponentially extra harmful with its high two receivers in uniform.
“They introduced plenty of vitality to our staff, and a ton of confidence,” stated Stafford, who had thrown simply three TD passes within the Rams’ first six video games mixed. “It’s not solely simply the offense. I do know the protection feels it too when these guys are on the market making performs.”
After lacking the earlier 5 video games, Nacua had seven catches whereas posting the eighth 100-yard recreation of his brief profession. Kupp returned from a four-game absence with 5 catches for 51 yards, together with a 27-yard seize for a key first down late within the fourth quarter.
“It was simply a lot enjoyable,” Kupp stated. “Offensively, we have been simply capable of finding methods to maintain the sticks transferring. Guys have been simply doing their jobs, and it was fairly cool to see us going.”
Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD go for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass late within the third quarter to place Los Angeles forward, and he made a 10-yard TD catch with 6:17 to play for a 28-20 lead.
Byron Younger then sacked Sam Darnold for a security with 1:36 left, grabbing Darnold’s facemask on the play. Officers did not throw a flag, sealing the Rams’ second win in 5 days after going 1-4 earlier than their bye.
“I imagine on this group,” stated coach Sean McVay, who turned the winningest coach in Rams historical past together with his eightieth victory. “I noticed resolve. I didn’t see a flinch. … We’ve completed job of getting ourselves again to the place we needed to be.”
McVay additionally received his first head-to-head assembly with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was his offensive coordinator through the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl championship season three years in the past.
“I feel we have been shut on some performs,” O’Connell stated. “However while you’re taking part in in opposition to that quarterback, and people receivers getting wholesome and getting on the market and making some performs for them, I simply assume it comes all the way down to (whether or not we) can get sufficient rush and protection working collectively to perhaps not give a quarterback like {that a} couple further clicks.”
Darnold handed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who adopted up their first lack of the season with an ineffective defensive efficiency. Minnesota additionally misplaced beginning left deal with Christian Darrisaw to a left knee harm late within the first half.
Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards, whereas Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota was held to 2 subject targets within the closing three quarters.
“As an offense, we have to simply be extra constant,” Darnold stated. “The facemask, it’s what it’s. I believed we might have completed quite a bit to not put ourselves within the scenario we have been in.”
Stafford threw at the least 4 TD passes for the sixteenth time in his profession, together with 4 with the Rams. The veteran additionally handed Dan Marino for ninth place in NFL historical past in whole completions.
Each groups scored touchdowns on their first two drives in entrance of a sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. Darnold went 8 for 8 on these drives, whereas Stafford clearly loved having his two favourite targets again in uniform.
Williams caught a brief go on the Rams’ opening drive and scored a landing in his tenth consecutive recreation. The Vikings hadn’t allowed a TD within the first quarter all season, and the Rams hadn’t scored on their first drive all season.
Byron Murphy intercepted an overthrown go by Stafford within the third, and Minnesota went up 17-14 after Jefferson prolonged the drive with a bobbling, one-handed reception.
Accidents
Vikings: TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) and G Dalton Risner (again) have been out. … Darrisaw bought injured whereas Minnesota was attempting to expire the clock to finish the primary half. O’Connell had no postgame replace.
Rams: Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was inactive with a shoulder harm. … S Kam Curl injured his knee within the first quarter, however returned within the second.
Up subsequent
Vikings: Host Indianapolis in a Sunday evening recreation on Nov. 3.
Rams: At Seattle on Nov. 3.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL