Los Angeles Rams

The significance of Monday's 27-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings beyond its playoff consequences wasn't lost on members of the Los Angeles Rams.

The NFC Wild Card Round matchup, which was moved to Glendale, Arizona, came as emergency responders are still fighting wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area.

"There was definitely every excuse in the book to come out here and be lethargic and woe is me and all that, but we knew we weren't playing just for us," Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "[We were] playing for people back home that needed something to watch and enjoy and I'm glad we could give that to them."

Head coach Sean McVay and wide receiver Cooper Kupp echoed the sentiment.

"You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together, offer a little bit of temporary relief, and I thought the way that our team competed tonight was what it looked like," McVay said.

"They epitomized and they represented the city the right way." pic.twitter.com/tL9xdZRQyN

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 14, 2025

Kupp added that the Rams felt a "responsibility" to leave everything on the field.

"You go out through the tunnel and that weight hits you front and center," he said. "These people are here and the energy that they brought, the atmosphere that they created, you wanted to make the most of that."

The Rams announced last week they were arranging for at least 15 charter buses to transport season-ticket holders from Los Angeles to State Farm Stadium. According to Barshop, that number grew to around 30 buses, which helped around 1,500 fans make the trek from Southern California.

Those fans didn't go home disappointed as Los Angeles cruised past Minnesota.

The Rams led 24-3 at halftime, scoring twice inside the final 4:35 of the second quarter. Rookie linebacker Jared Verse returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown and then Stafford connected with tight end Davis Allen on a 13-yard pass with 15 seconds on the clock.

Jared Verse reached a top speed of 19.88 mph, the fastest speed reached by a 260+ pound ball carrier over the last seven seasons (since 2018).

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/C2ukO5rLeD

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 14, 2025

Stafford finished 19-of-27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Kyren Williams went for 76 yards on the ground. In addition to forcing two turnovers, the Rams defense sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times, which tied a single-game playoff record.

Los Angeles will hit the road to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round.

The Minnesota Vikings were the team with 14 wins that battled for the NFC's No. 1 seed all season long, but you would never know from Monday's playoff game.

The Los Angeles Rams rolled to a 27-9 victory over Minnesota in the NFC Wild Card Round to set up a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. While the game was moved to State Farm Stadium in Arizona because of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the Rams looked right at home as they controlled the contest from the opening possession.

Matthew Stafford went 19-of-27 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, while the defense forced two turnovers and tallied nine sacks.

RAMS STRIKE FIRST as Matthew Stafford finds Kyren Williams 🔥

(via @NFL)
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— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025

RAMS GO UP 24-3 AT THE HALF 😳

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/ofzTLzV7nQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025

Minnesota never got anything going until it was too late as Sam Darnold went 25-of-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Los Angeles also held stars Justin Jefferson (five catches for 58 yards) and Aaron Jones (48 rushing yards) in check and out of the end zone in an impressive overall performance.

The Rams may be a wild-card team that now has to go on the road, but social media was discussing their Super Bowl prospects as the blowout unfolded:

Playoff Stafford is next level. The Rams have legit Super Bowl aspirations.

— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) January 14, 2025

I’ll even do you all one better and tell you now that this Rams team is very capable of reaching the Super Bowl.

I have the Eagles myself, but this is a very dangerous Rams team.

They’re healthy. That’s why.

— Andy Dudones (@ADudones) January 14, 2025

I’ve seen enough, the Rams are winning the Super Bowl

— Connor Christensen (@TrashBoatConnRC) January 14, 2025

Rams are dangerous! They're going to the super bowl I don't think the lions can't beat em

— Cesar C (@Elconejo48) January 14, 2025

Haven’t seen that type of all 3 phases football in the playoffs since the #Rams went on to win the Super Bowl

— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) January 14, 2025

All those people who chose the Vikings are real quiet!!!! Rams are a dangerous team with there Super Bowl champion QB what has Darnold done!? 🤔

— Slickvic (@Vic14530) January 14, 2025

Rams a Super Bowl threat!!

— Poppa Slim (@slimvsjarvis) January 14, 2025

Telling you , it’s Rams Vs. Ravens in the Super Bowl . Said this from day one.

— LamarisMVP (@YBisYachtboy) January 14, 2025

https://twitter.com/WashedIsRyan/status/1878995238334996726

Are the Rams………. A Super Bowl contender?!

— John Hyland 💙🟦 (@QuoteThisSports) January 14, 2025

Rams turning into a Super Bowl contender come playoff time? Seen this story

— Thomas B (@BravesGuySC92) January 14, 2025

Yoooo rams might win the Super Bowl smh

— R. Johnson (@rashadthebreed) January 14, 2025

It was clear from the start who was going to win, as Los Angeles wasted no time setting the tone while marching seven plays for 70 yards and a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Stafford found Kyren Williams for the score and continued to pick apart the Minnesota secondary as his team built a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter.

It was the defense's turn from there, as Cobie Durant picked off Darnold before Ahkello Witherspoon's sack on the ensuing Minnesota possession knocked the ball loose for Jared Verse to scoop up and return 57 yards for a touchdown.

Los Angeles sacked Darnold six times in the first half with one coming on a fourth-down attempt. It was in full control of the line of scrimmage against a Vikings team that looked nothing like the one that won 14 games in the regular season.

SAM DANOLD IS PICKED OFF 😬

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/2Z3uuLbkoO

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025

RAMS STRIP SAM DARNOLD AND SCORE 😱

(via @NFL)
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— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2025

The six sacks Sam Darnold has taken are the most by any QB in the first half of a playoff game in the last 25 years.

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) January 14, 2025

The fourth-down sack set up another touchdown pass from Darnold to Davis Allen as the Rams took a commanding 24-3 halftime lead.

The second half was largely a formality, although Darnold gave the Vikings a chance with a third-quarter touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson. Los Angeles' pressure also didn't get to the USC product during the third quarter like it did in the early going, and Minnesota started to build some momentum.

Still, that momentum was short-lived as the defensive pressure returned in the fourth and cut short multiple Vikings' drives. Stafford and Co. didn't have to do much as the Rams put the finishing touches on the win.

It might take an even better performance to advance against the Eagles, but the NFC West team looked like a contender Monday.

The NFL has announced that the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams NFC Wild Card playoff game has been moved to State Farm Stadium (home of the Arizona Cardinals) due to the ongoing Los Angeles area wildfires.

#Vikings-#Rams has been moved to Arizona. pic.twitter.com/WN9PraKjxn

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2025

The game will remain on its same scheduled day and time of Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced its contingency plan to move the game to Glendale, Arizona if needed.

pic.twitter.com/X8s9LWPPEy

— NFL345 (@NFL345) January 8, 2025

The Los Angeles Chargers are also scheduled to play a Wild Card Weekend game and will do so on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET against the AFC South champion Houston Texans.

The Rams and Chargers both play in SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, California. Fires have not reached that area, but the air quality has been severely impacted and is considered very unhealthy at this time.

Per CNN, fire officials are fighting at least five Los Angeles area wildfires (Eaton, Hurst, Kenneth, Lidia and Palisades). At least six people have died, but the official death toll is unknown. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate. The Palisades Fire is the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles County.

Several areas across Los Angeles are being affected by devastating wildfires, but the NFC Wild Card Game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings on Monday night remains on schedule as of Wednesday:

The NFL has announced that the #Vikings-#Rams playoff game is still being planned for LA. But there is a contingency plan. pic.twitter.com/CLlazq2uKn

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 9, 2025

The league announced it has prepared a contingency plan for Monday with the game potentially being moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona if necessary.

The NFL previously said it was "monitoring the situation's potential impact" on the game, which is scheduled to be played at the Rams' SoFi Stadium, per ESPN's Lindsey Thiry.

On Wednesday, three major wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles metropolitan area from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, leading to evacuation orders for at least 70,000 people. Per Thiry, officials said the evacuation number was constantly changing because of new orders continually being issued.

"The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA," the NFL wrote in a statement.

A team official for the Rams said the team is also monitoring the situation. Los Angeles had the day off on Wednesday but is scheduled to resume practice on Thursday. The team's headquarters is located in Woodland Hills, just 13 miles north of the Pacific Palisades, which is being ravaged by the wildfires. However, the Santa Monica Mountains separate the two towns.

As of Wednesday morning, the Rams said no players or staff have been impacted by the fires. A team official for the Los Angeles Chargers, who will visit the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday, said the team tweaked its practice schedule on Wednesday to limit players' time outdoors. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Tuesday that his family has been evacuated due to the wildfires.

Thiry noted that the air quality index in the area varied between 150 to well above 300, with 150 considered "very unhealthy" by the system used to measure air pollution. The air quality of Inglewood, California, where SoFi Stadium is located, was measured at 281 on Wednesday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires," Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on social media. "Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances."

Amid the recent wave of burglaries that have occurred at the home of professional athletes, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is taking extra precaution to ensure his house is secure.

Per TMZ Sports, Stafford recently invited police officers and NFL security to inspect his home for potential weak spots.

TMZ noted law enforcement said they provided tips and additional safety measures Stafford can take to prevent his home from being targeted.

In a recent liasion information report obtained by Aaron Katersky and Josh Margolin of ABC News, the FBI warned pro sports leagues about organized crime groups targeting the homes of professional athletes.

"These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash," the report said.

The FBI noted these groups have allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes between September and November.

Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes burglarized on Oct. 7 right around the start of their Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints.

The homes of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić and Dallas Stars captain Tyler Seguin were burglarized within a few weeks of each other. U.S. authorities announced Joe Burrow's home was broken into during the Cincinnati Bengals' game against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 9.

Per Malik Jackson of Fox 4 in Kansas City, police believe the people behind these burglaries are members of a South American crime ring.

There's no indication at this point that any of the athlete homes that have been burglarized were occupied at the time of the alleged incidents.

Among the instructions law enforcement officials have been providing to athletes, per TMZ, is to make sure their entire homes have security alarms rather than just the first floor and avoid leaving ladders around the property.

In 2023, Stafford purchased a $28 million property in Los Angeles that used to belong to Jennifer Lopez.

The Los Angeles Rams' defense came up clutch during a 13-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

As the Cardinals attempted to score a go-ahead touchdown with just under one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, a pass from Kyler Murray bounced off the helmet of tight end Trey McBride before it was intercepted by Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

Deflected and PICKED in the end zone. What a grab by Witherspoon!

📺: #AZvsLAR on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/DCKepFjgoT

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

Matthew Stafford dealt with inaccuracy at various points throughout the contest, finishing 17-of-32 for 189 yards without recording a touchdown or an interception.

Stafford's top target was Puka Nacua, who hauled in 10 receptions for a game-high 129 yards. Saturday marked Nacua's fifth game with at least 100 receiving yards in 11 appearances this season.

Los Angeles' defense forced two fourth-quarter turnovers and routinely pressured Murray, sacking him four times. The Cardinals were held scoreless throughout the first half of the contest.

After the Rams picked up a key NFC West victory that marked their fifth consecutive win, fans praised their performance.

Ahkello Witherspoon saves the day for the Rams! Rams beat the Cardinals 13-9 to move to 10-6x

What an incredible turnaround for a Rams team that started 1-4 and are now headed for a home playoff game.

pic.twitter.com/crvxPL7DVR

— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) December 29, 2024

Rams defense has allowed less than 10 points in each of the last 3 weeks 👀

• 6 points in San Francisco
• 9 points in New York
• 9 points vs. Arizona @AaronDonald97 would be proud! pic.twitter.com/SjjleRePW9

— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) December 29, 2024

The Rams are the first team to allow fewer than 10 points in 3 consecutive games since 2021.

They've also won 5 games in a row for the first time since 2021.pic.twitter.com/iLyqgnBPYY

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) December 29, 2024

The Rams scored 44 points to beat the Bills in Week 14.

They've scored 44 in the three games since, all wins.

— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) December 29, 2024

Chris Shula deserves a ton of credit. The development of this Rams defense has been fantastic to watch.

— Ryan Dyrud (@RyanDyrudLAFB) December 29, 2024

The Rams continue to show that they can win ugly.

It hasn't been pretty the past three weeks. However, the Rams are 3-0 and are so close to winning the NFC West. They earn double-digit wins for the sixth time in Mcvay's career.

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) December 29, 2024

Rams defense hold teams to less than 10 points for the third week in a row!

— East Coast Rams Pod (@EastCoastRams) December 29, 2024

Rams win! Nailbiter holding out to finish things, but they came through. GO RAMS!

— Nathan Smith (@wbfresh90) December 29, 2024

For the Cardinals, Murray finished 33-of-48 for 321 yards and a touchdown to go along with a pair of interceptions.

Arizona amassed 396 yards of offense, but an inability to finish drives prevented head coach Jonathan Gannon's team from putting more points on the board.

Los Angeles improved to 10-6 with the win, staying in control of the NFC West with one regular-season game remaining.

The Rams can clinch a division title with least three wins or two wins and a tie from the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns in Week 17.

Now the only way the Rams can clinch this week is with a win over Arizona and “Strength of victory” with 4 of these 6 teams winning this week.

Rams control their own destiny. pic.twitter.com/4nOWZZxyWW

— 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐀 🇮🇪 (@BuiltForLA) December 27, 2024

The Rams secured consecutive 10-win seasons on Saturday and could potentially lock down a playoff spot before their final game of the regular season.

The 9-6 Los Angeles Rams are closing in on an NFC West title, and a new physical identity has played a large part in that ascension.

According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, "Not quite two weeks ago, after the Rams outlasted the San Francisco 49ers in an ugly slog played in rainy conditions, an executive from another team made an observation: The Rams had surpassed the 49ers as the most physical team in the NFC West."

"I give the Rams credit because they were soft and they knew it, and they identified a couple things, and now they have become a grittier team than the 49ers," the executive added.

The Rams clearly prioritized physicality in recent years, re-signing offensive lineman Kevin Dotson this offseason and drafting Steve Avila last year. In the 2024 draft, they nabbed edge-rusher Jared Verse and defensive end Braden Fiske in the first two rounds.

"You look at how Detroit wins on the line of scrimmage, how Minnesota wins on the line of scrimmage, how Green Bay wins on the line of scrimmage," a coach from an opponent of the Rams said. "They are much in the same vein, where Verse is having a Defensive Rookie of the Year type season, and Fiske is in the mix as well. They are a physical team on defense and the offensive line is now healthy, so it is more physical too."

The Rams still have the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) lurking in the NFC West, so there is work to be done. But the team's new identity has them on the doorstep of a division crown, while the 6-9 Niners have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is a "sneaky name to watch" among potential head coaching hires this offseason, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday.

"I hadn't heard his name much earlier, but I did enough over the past week that it's worth mentioning," Fowler wrote.

People around the NFL are interested by Shula's "work and demeanor," according to Fowler.

Sean McVay's staff members have a track record of landing leadership roles across the league. Former Rams staffers turned head coaches currently include the Green Bay Packers' Matt LaFleur, Cincinnati Bengals' Zac Taylor, Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell and Atlanta Falcons' Raheem Morris.

Shula took over for Morris ahead of the 2024 season following his departure for the Falcons.

He has worked with the Rams since 2017, originally serving as a defensive assistant for McVay before rising to pass-rush coordinator and linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator.

Shula's defenders shone in Week 15 during the Rams' 12-6 division rivalry win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The Niners conceded the loss having accumulated just 191 total yards of offense, a regular-season low in eight seasons under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

The @RamsNFL end it with a sack! pic.twitter.com/7GBU3uEt4a

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2024

Shula is the grandson of Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame coach Don Shula. He was interviewed for the Dolphins for their defensive coordinator job ahead of the 2024 season, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

ESPN's Adam Schefter estimated in November that there would be between seven and nine head coaching openings ahead of the 2025 season.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel signed a three-year extension ahead of the 2024 season, but ESPN's Dan Graziano reported after Week 14 that some people around the NFL "have their eye on Miami and wonder whether there's a change if things end badly this season."

The Dolphins' playoff chances sunk further following a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. If McDaniel ends up in the hot seat, the Dolphins could potentially look to turn to the grandson of their winningest head coach in NFL history as a replacement.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is open to the concept of former defensive tackle Aaron Donald returning to the team, but he doesn't plan on reaching out to the retired superstar.

"I would almost feel disrespectful reaching out to him, just based on the principles and knowing him the way that I do," McVay said, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "If that was something that he got interested in, then that would obviously be something that you're always open to."

Rams general manager Les Snead revealed in May that he spoke with Donald regarding a potential return for a postseason run, while wide receiver Cooper Kupp confirmed that the 33-year-old's locker is still available if he wants to come back.

The Rams opened the year by winning just one of their first five games, but they've rallied to contend for the NFC West crown. They currently sit at 8-6, owning the top spot in the division.

FINAL: The @RamsNFL win! #LARvsSF pic.twitter.com/BGrInrlhdm

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2024

The Seattle Seahawks (8-6) and Arizona Cardinals (7-7) are both challenging for the division lead as well.

While it isn't hard to imagine Donald still being able to make an impact if he were to suit up again, a return to Los Angeles at this point in the season may be unlikely. The Rams placed him on the reserve/retired list on July 26, with the deadline for players emerging from the list occurring on the final business day before Week 13 (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).

Los Angeles could technically release Donald from the reserve/retired list and then subsequently sign him as a free agent, but he'd need to clear waivers first. After he earned another All-Pro nod in 2023, an opposing team would certainly scoop him up on waivers for their own playoff push.

Donald retired as one of the best interior defensive linemen in NFL history, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards and earning 10 Pro Bowl selections to go along with eight First-Team All-Pro appearances.

He finished his career with 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss and 24 forced fumbles.

Aaron Donald's HOF career 🏅

🐐 Super Bowl champion (LVI)
🐐 3× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018, 2020)
🐐 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2014)
🐐 8× First-team All-Pro (2015–2021, 2023)
🐐 10× Pro Bowl (2014–2023) pic.twitter.com/bXrl5zJWnR

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 15, 2024

Donald has already experienced immense success in the playoffs, helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.

McVay's team has bounced back from a slow start to contend for a second consecutive postseason appearance in 2024, but a reunion with one of the franchise's all-time greats may not come to fruition.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams reveled in his team's season sweep of the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night following a 12-6 victory at Levi's Stadium.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Williams said, "We're the big brothers now," in reference to the Rams' first season sweep of the Niners since 2018.

Most importantly, L.A. improved to 8-6 on the season with the win, bringing it within a half-game of the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers hold a slight edge over the Rams in their all-time rivalry at 78-71-3, although most of the Rams' success came from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Since then, San Francisco is 59-32-1 against the Rams, which includes a one-sided 17-3 mark throughout the 1990s.

While the Niners swept the Rams during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 regular seasons, Los Angeles did beat San Francisco in the 2021 playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl, and it has now taken three of the past four regular-season meetings between the teams.

In addition to the Rams creeping closer to the division lead, they kept the 49ers at the bottom with a 6-8 record, which also has them on the brink of falling out of playoff contention.

It seems likely that San Francisco will have to win out and finish 9-8 to have a shot at the playoffs, but even that may not be enough to keep the 49ers' three-year playoff streak intact.

Injuries have taken their toll on the 49ers this season, and they were without some key players again Thursday, including offensive tackle Trent Williams, running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the season.

Although the 49ers are perhaps on the brink of playoff elimination if they can't run the table against the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals, the Rams are getting hot at just the right time.

L.A. has overcome early-season injuries to wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and won four of its past five games to go from under .500 to the thick of the playoff race.

The Rams' next two games are against teams with losing records in the New York Jets and Cardinals, meaning their Week 18 game against the Seahawks could be for the NFC West title.

Los Angeles has shown the past two weeks that it can win in myriad ways, hanging a ton of points on the Buffalo Bills in a 44-42 win last week, before battling it out in a defensive affair to beat the 49ers 12-6 this week.

With that kind of diversity and the talent they have on both sides of the ball, the Rams are looking like the team to beat in the NFC West.