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Stafford throws 4 TDs in LA win

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4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Huge receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned to the Los Angeles Rams’ lineup for his or her Week 8 “Thursday Evening Soccer” face-off with the Minnesota Vikings. And with their prime two pass-catching targets again wholesome, the Rams regarded reinvigorated.

Los Angeles handed Minnesota its second straight loss, the Rams successful 30-20 on Thursday night time. Kupp and Nacua mixed for 12 catches, 157 yards and a landing. Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed the night time 25-of-34 with 279 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and one interception.

The Vikings’ protection, which had been so sturdy all 12 months, had one in all its worst performances of the season. It allowed its first, first-quarter landing of the 12 months on the Rams’ first drive, and the 28 factors Minnesota’s protection gave up had been the third-most behind final week’s 31 allowed to the Detroit Lions and 29 allowed to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 4.

To make issues worse for the NFC North contender, they misplaced star left sort out Christian Darrisaw, whom the staff inked to a four-year, $113 million extension this offseason, to a knee harm. The offensive sort out bought rolled up on by a Rams defender late within the first half and was nearly instantly declared out for the rest of the sport.

Right here’s how Los Angeles’ “Thursday Evening Soccer” win performed out:

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Vikings vs. Rams highlights

Last: Rams 30, Vikings 20

Rams get security, by some means keep away from facemask penalty

Los Angeles has prolonged its result in 10 factors after sacking Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold ultimately zone. The sort out was made utilizing Darnold’s face masks, however the refs didn’t name a penalty. It is a non-reviewable play.

Minnesota tried an onside kick, however Rams operating again Kyren Williams recovered it with 1:36 remaining within the sport.

Rams win 30-20.

Rams lengthen lead as Demarcus Robinson scores once more

Robinson ran a superb post-corner path to beat the Vikings’ zone protection ultimately zone. Stafford discovered his receiver within the back-right quadrant of the tip zone for his fourth passing landing to increase the Rams’ lead.

It is 28-20 Rams with 6:17 remaining within the sport.

Will Reichard stays excellent, pulls Vikings inside one

By means of seven video games, the rookie kicker is an ideal 14-for-14 on area objective makes an attempt and 20-for-20 on PATs. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, his 35-yard area objective reduce his staff’s deficit to 1 level.

It is 21-20 Rams with just below 13 minutes left to play.

Finish of third quarter: Rams 21, Vikings 17

With quarter-hour left to play, Minnesota is liable to dropping its second straight sport after opening the season with 5 straight wins. The Vikings may have the ball on the Los Angeles 48-yard line on third-and-3 to open the fourth quarter.

Demarcus Robinson TD offers Rams first lead

Matthew Stafford slotted in a perfectly-placed cross to Robinson for a 25-yard landing to cap off one other 70-yard drive. Due to the wonderful placement, Robinson was capable of make the catch between his defender’s arms, giving the Rams their first lead of the sport.

It is 21-17 Los Angeles with 2:36 remaining within the third quarter

Will Reichard offers Vikings one other lead

The Vikings’ kicker has not missed a area objective but this season. His newest try, a 23-yarder, put Minnesota again within the lead with 6:22 left within the third quarter.

It is 17-14 Vikings.

Justin Jefferson makes one other circus catch

Whereas being held, Jefferson reached out with one hand to aim a catch on a deep cross from Sam Darnold. He bobbled the ball a number of instances earlier than securing the catch as he fell out of bounds to set the Vikings up on the Los Angeles 4-yard line.

Byron Murphy intercepts Matthew Stafford to finish Rams’ drive

Los Angeles made it into Vikings territory on its first drive of the second half, however Murphy stopped the Rams’ progress with an interception. Murphy’s play gave Minnesota the ball again at its personal 27-yard line with 12:08 left within the third quarter.

The sport remains to be tied, 14-14.

Halftime: Vikings 14, Rams 14

Vikings OT Christian Darrisaw injured

Darrisaw bought rolled up on throughout one of many last performs of the primary half and went down holding his left knee. Vikings medical personnel tended to the star sort out on the sphere earlier than serving to him stroll again to the locker room. Darrisaw appeared unable to place a lot weight on his left leg on his approach again.

David Quessenberry changed Darrisaw for a QB kneel that was the final play of the half.

Darrisaw has been dominated out for the sport with a knee harm.

Matthew Stafford escapes sack, fires game-tying landing to Cooper Kupp

The Rams’ quarterback prevented sack makes an attempt from two separate Vikings defenders with a juke and a duck-under throughout a second-and-goal play from the Minnesota 7. As he scrambled within the pocket, Stafford threw a bullet to Kupp, who had missed Los Angeles’ final 4 video games after struggling an ankle harm in Week 2.

This sport is tied again up at 14 factors every with 10 minutes left within the first half.

Finish of first quarter: Vikings 14, Rams 7

On the finish of the primary quarter, Los Angeles has the ball close to midfield because it continues its second offensive drive. Puka Nacua leads all Rams offensive gamers with 50 yards from scrimmage on three catches.

Sam Darnold excellent, Vikings now 2-for-2 after Trent Sherfield scores

Minnesota labored one other methodical, 70-yard drive on its second possession of the sport. Darnold hit Sherfield on a 10-yard cross out of a play-action pretend to remain excellent and put his staff again forward.

Darnold is 8-for-8 for 97 yards and two landing passes after the primary two Vikings offensive drives.

It is 14-7 Minnesota with below one minute to play within the first quarter.

Rams reply with Kyren Williams TD

The Rams’ operating again ran an angle route out of the backfield and ended up extensive open over the center. Matthew Stafford made the simple cross, and Los Angeles capped off a 70-yard drive with a landing to match Minnesota’s opening possession. It is the primary landing the Vikings have allowed within the first quarter all 12 months.

The sport is tied at 7 with 6:38 left within the first quarter.

Puka Nacua makes first catch since Week 1

Nacua dropped his first goal on the Rams’ first offensive drive, however that did not cease quarterback Matthew Stafford from going again his approach on the following play. The second-year receiver picked up 13 yards on his first catch.

He is again in motion after recovering from a knee harm he sustained in Week 1.

Vikings roll down the sphere, seize early lead with Josh Oliver TD

Huge receiver Justin Jefferson and operating again Aaron Jones mixed for 65 yards on the Vikings’ first drive of the night time, nevertheless it was tight finish Josh Oliver who got here away with the rating on the 70-yard drive. Quarterback Sam Darnold discovered him extensive open over the center on a flat route, and Oliver trotted in for a straightforward, 5-yard landing.

It is 7-0 Minnesota with 10:43 left within the first quarter.

Vikings’ Kam Curl banged up early within the first quarter

Curl was tackling Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson on the primary possession of the sport when he suffered a lower-body harm. The Rams’ security grabbed at his left knee whereas down on the turf after making the sort out.

Rookie security Kamren Kinchens took over for Curl after the play. The Rams introduced Curl is questionable to return with a knee harm.

Rams vs. Vikings begin time

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Rams and Vikings sport will kick off Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season with “Thursday Evening Soccer” at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Rams vs. Vikings TV Channel

Reside stream: Amazon Prime Video

“Thursday Evening Soccer” will solely stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Watch”Thursday Evening Soccer”with a Prime Video subscription

Rams vs. Vikings picks, predictions

This is how the USA TODAY Sports activities workers feels the “TNF” matchup between the Vikings and Rams will go:

Lorenzo Reyes: Vikings 28, Rams 17
Tyler Dragon: Vikings 26, Rams 20
Richard Morin: Vikings 24, Rams 21
Jordan Mendoza: Vikings 23, Rams 19

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Rams vs. Vikings odds, moneyline, over/below

The Vikings are favorites to defeat the Rams, based on the BetMGM NFL odds. Trying to wager? Take a look at the finest cellular sports activities betting apps providing NFL betting promos in 2024 together with the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The most recent NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and extra.

Unfold: Vikings (-2.5)
Moneyline: Vikings (-145); Rams (+120)
Over/below: 47.5

Not on this sport? Our information to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you lined with Thursday Evening Soccer odds and Monday Evening Soccer odds.

New to sports activities betting? USA TODAY readers can declare unique promos and bonus codes with the finest on-line sportsbooks and sports activities betting websites.

FEELING LUCKY? Listed here are the perfect parlay bets and odds for NFL video games this week

NFC West standings

The Rams enter the Week 8 “TNF” showdown in final place within the NFC West. With a win tonight Los Angeles would transfer into third forward of the 49ers whom they defeated in Week 3. They might stay behind the Cardinals who defeated them in Week 2 and at present personal the tiebreaker.

Seahawks 4-3
Cardinals 3-4
49ers 3-4
Rams 2-4

NFC North standings

The Vikings enter the Week 8 “TNF” showdown in second place within the NFC North. The Lions defeated the Vikings final week and at present personal the tiebreaker within the division.

Lions 5-1
Vikings 5-1
Packers 5-2
Bears 4-2

Rams vs. Vikings climate replace

It will be a transparent night time in Inglewood with a excessive of 68 levels at kickoff and a low of 63 levels at 9 p.m. PT. Based on the Climate Channel, winds will max out at eight mph whereas possibilities of precipitation are below 3% for the whole sport. The sport will likely be performed indoors at SoFi Stadium the place the climate may have no impact.

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Who’re the Thursday Evening Soccer announcers for Amazon Prime Video?

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will likely be within the broadcast sales space for Prime Video, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (guidelines analyst) offering further protection.

The Prime Video pregame, halftime and postgame reveals characteristic Charissa Thompson as host, in addition to former NFL gamers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.

Taylor Rooks is the characteristic reporter for Prime Video’s “Thursday Evening Soccer” protection. Albert Breer gives studies and evaluation.

Rams vs. Vikings historical past

These NFC opponents have met 47 instances in historical past together with seven playoff matchups. The Vikings lead the matchup all-time with a 27-18-2 document.

The newest matchup was in December 2021 in Week 16 the place the Rams had been victorious in a 30-23 win on the highway in Minnesota. The win helped carry the Rams’ momentum into the ultimate two weeks of the season and into the playoffs the place they in the end received the Tremendous Bowl over the Bengals.

What’s Al Michaels’ wage for ‘Thursday Evening Soccer’ with Amazon Prime?

The New York Put up’s Andrew Marchand initially reported that Michaels’ contract can be for 3 years and “north of $30 million,” however that quantity could have gone up.

About one week after that first report, in March 2022, Marchand shared that the Amazon deal can be “within the Joe Buck neighborhood.” Buck signed a five-year, $75 million deal ($15 million yearly) with ESPN earlier that very same month.

Who’re the very best paid NFL gamers at every place?

We have now a whole record at each place:

Who’s the highest-paid NFL participant?

The NFL’s prime 18 gamers in common annual wage are all quarterbacks, based on OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott turned the league’s highest-paid participant within the preseason, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Justin Jefferson is the primary non-quarterback on the highest-paid record after placing a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.

Rams WR Puka Nacua is energetic for Week 8

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Rams are getting each their extensive receivers again Thursday night time.

Puka Nacua is formally energetic versus the Minnesota Vikings, the Rams introduced.

Nacua had his 21-day follow window formally open up this week. The Rams then activated Nacua off injured reserve a number of hours earlier than Thursday’s sport, setting the stage for him to make a return.

The Rams positioned Nacua on injured reserve following the staff’s Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions as a consequence of a knee harm. He’s missed the previous 5 contests.

Los Angeles will even see the return of extensive receiver Cooper Kupp, who’s missed the final 4 video games. Nacua and Kupp have solely performed in a single sport collectively this season. — Tyler Dragon

Los Angeles Rams harm report

QB Stetson Bennett (emergency third QB)
RB Cody Schrader
WR Jordan Whittington
DE Desjuan Johnson
CB Tre’Davious White

Minnesota Vikings harm report

QB Brett Rypien (emergency third QB)
CB Akayleb Evans
CB Dwight McGlothern
RB Myles Gaskin
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
LB Blake Cashman
OT Walter Rouse

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