Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp makes a catch during the fourth quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) is brought down by Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) and defensive lineman Mike Hoecht during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver, right, and offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw celebrate after a touchdown during the first quarter of their game against the Rams on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, tries to evade the Minnesota Vikings’ Blake Corum, after a catch during the first half on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams running back Kyren Williams tumbles into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones, left, tries to get past Rams cornerback Decobie Durant during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith reach for the ball on a pass during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams running back Kyren Williams has his face mask grabbed by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., as he runs with the ball during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua holds on to the ball as Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus tries to tackle him during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, right, gets brought down by Rams cornerback Decobie Durant, center, and Quentin Lake, left, during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A Rams fan cheers with Halloween props during their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams running back Kyren Williams, right, collides with Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith during the first quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford smiles during a drive in the second quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua dives for extra yardage with the Minnesota Vikings’ Brian Asamoah in pursuit during the second quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, right, slides in front of Rams cornerback Decobie Durant during the second quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, hands the ball to running back Kyren Williams during the third quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams running back Kyren Williams, right, celebrates during a long drive as Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum shows his frustration during the third quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, left, comes down with a touchdown catch as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin tumbles to the turf during the third quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates his touchdown catch during the third quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches a pass for a long gain as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Josh Metellus defends during the third quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) smiles after making a catch for a long gain during the fourth quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates after a touchdown catch — his second of the game — during the fourth quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, left, is sacked for a safety by Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) and defensive end Braden Fiske (55) during the fourth quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is sacked for a safety by Rams defensive end Braden Fiske, top, and linebacker Byron Young, not pictured, during the fourth quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold sits on the turf after being sacked by Rams defensive lineman Mike Hoecht during the fourth quarter on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A masked Rams fan looks on during their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Kupp returned to the lineup after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on before their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Kupp returned to the lineup after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp warms up before their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Kupp returned to the lineup after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp makes a catch during the fourth quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
INGLEWOOD — Team introductions had a different kind of energy ahead of the Rams’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
Puka Nacua, making a surprise return after missing five games, was all smiles as he ran onto the field, ready to play football again. He was followed by Cooper Kupp, typically stoic as he prepared to play for the first time since Week 2, but greeted with a little extra enthusiasm by an angsty fan base in the wake of trade rumors surrounding the former Super Bowl MVP. And then finally Matthew Stafford, pounding his chest and leaping in in the air as he took the field behind his two favorite targets.
And, for a night at least, everything was right with the Rams’ offense. The screen game to Nacua, in full effect. Running lanes for Kyren Williams, open. A first-quarter touchdown, scored for the first time this season. Kupp in motion, pulling defenses in different directions. Four touchdown passes, thrown by Stafford after three in the first six games.
And that was what the Rams needed to overcome one of the NFL’s top defenses, beating the Vikings, 30-20.
In their returns to the field, Nacua finished with seven catches for 106 yards while Kupp added five for 51. And, left for dead after five weeks, the Rams improved to 3-4 with two wins in five days, putting them one game out of the NFC West lead.
“I believe in this group,” head coach Sean McVay said on a night he won his franchise-record 80th game as head coach. “I saw a resolve, I didn’t see a flinch. We still have a long way to go … and we’ve done a good job of getting ourselves back to where we wanted to be.”
On their first two drives of the game, the offense looked like the more dangerous version the Rams envisioned when they planned for the 2024 season. Offensive linemen pulled outside to block for Nacua screens, as Kupp pulled defenses in the wrong direction with motion. Williams gashed defenses that had to account for the two big-name receivers.
The Rams got some help from third-down penalties on the Vikings’ defense to keep drives alive. But they scored on their first two possessions. Williams was able to slip out of the backfield for a touchdown catch, while on the second drive Stafford ducked under a sack attempt to extend the play and find a sliding Kupp for a touchdown.
“Fear is a hell of a motivator,” Stafford quipped.
After the first score, the initial first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Vikings (5-2) this season, Stafford took a long look at the Rams’ sideline before running to the end zone to celebrate.
“I thought Matthew had a look in his eye,” McVay said, “where he was going to be ready to go. And it’s like, ‘Hey, you’re coming with me.’”
“It is those moments,” Kupp said, “he feeds off of guys making plays and himself being a part of that. The juice of just running out through the tunnel and feeling the crowd. He feels all that stuff.”
The Rams needed that offensive fire, because the Vikings were just as in-sync on their first two possessions. The offensive line erased the Rams’ pass rush, and receiver Justin Jefferson was able to get open at will. They too scored touchdowns on their first two drives, and Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed his first eight passes for 97 yards.
The Rams’ defense began to calm down from there. Rookie Jared Verse spooked Darnold into a third-down throwaway, then bull rushed through the tight end on the first play of the next drive to sack Darnold for a 10-yard loss. The play, which Verse celebrated by doing the Vikings’ overhead “Skol” clap, set the Vikings back and led to a punt.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ offense stalled in its own way, with the third and fourth offensive line penalties out of six in the game. Then Stafford threw his fourth interception in four weeks to open the second half.
But the Vikings were only to take advantage of the Rams’ lull with back-to-back field goals.
That opened a window for the Rams, and they took advantage. Stafford to an end zone shot to Demarcus Robinson streaking down the field. The cornerback in coverage was called for pass interference, but it didn’t matter, as Robinson came to the ground with the ball and the go-ahead touchdown.
The Rams got the ball back with 12:47 to play and a one-point lead. And Stafford went back to work, completing passes to Blake Corum and Hunter Long – the eighth and ninth targets to make catches on Thursday – to complete first downs. Then facing fourth-and-inches, Nacua set the edge against a linebacker to spring a first-down run by Williams.
All Stafford needed was a clean pocket and good misdirection route by Robinson, who got open in the corner of the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Robinson chucked the ball into the crowd of 72,127 and Stafford (279 yards passing) stuck his tongue out at the Rams’ sideline as they secured an eight-point lead.
The teams traded punts, but the Rams were able to work the clock down below the two-minute warning. The Rams had to punt, but Ethan Evans pinned Minnesota at its own 5-yard line. Two plays later, Byron Young sacked Darnold in the end zone, getting away with a facemask penalty to secure the win.
“It’s great momentum coming into next week [vs. division leader Seattle],” Williams said. “But we got to still stay humble. We can’t ride the high wave of being a winner because we still got to go to work and prove it again next weekend.”
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