Los Angeles Rams (3-4) – Minnesota Vikings (5-2): 30-20
American football is easier with its star players. The Rams certainly learned nothing this Thursday evening, but they have a smile. The simultaneous returns of Cooper Kupp (5 rec, 51 yards, 1 TD) and Puka Nacua (7 rec, 106 yards) completely transformed the Los Angeles attack.
Matthew Stafford (25/34, 279 yards, 4 TDs, 1 int) found the tempo thanks to his two favorite targets, who returned directly in good shape. But not only that. Kyren Williams (23 races, 97 yards – 5 rec, 19 yards, 1 TD) gained yards on the ground and Demarcus Robinson took advantage of the openings created by his comrades to score two touchdowns in the air.
Things weren't so easy though. Without shining, the Vikings remained within shooting range for almost the entire game. And it took a successful safety by the defense with a little less than two minutes remaining to definitively secure the victory. A safety on which the referees also forgot to whistle a facemask from a Los Angeles defender.
The ride then the calm
This game started with a bang: four touchdowns in the first four possessions. A treat of attacking football between two of the best coaches in the field.
Sam Darnold (18/25, 240 yards, 2 TDs) starts strong, with eight completed passes in a row and the first touchdown of the game for Josh Oliver (2 rec, 30 yards, 1 TD). Stafford responds by targeting Puka Nacua on three of his first four passes. But it was Kyren Williams who scored the equalizing touchdown (7-7). The following touchdowns are for Trent Sherfield for the purples and Cooper Kupp for the Californian side (14-14).
Issue ? Minnesota will not see the end zone again.
Vikings lose Christian Darrisaw
In addition to the loss, the Vikings have an injury problem. Just before the break, while Minnesota was in front of its own end zone, Christian Darrisaw came out with a knee injury. All this on an action stuck to its own end zone a few seconds before halftime. It's a turning point.
Because if Minnesota starts the third quarter strong with an interception and a field goal to take the lead (14-17), the attack suffers more and more from the absence of its left tackle, and the pressure is more and more present on Darnold. As a result, Justin Jefferson (8 rec, 115 yards) gradually disappears from the equation. The star is never targeted on his quarterback's last seven passes.
Meanwhile, the Rams scored two touchdowns from Demarcus Robinson to take the lead (28-20), before the victory safety at the end of the match (30-20), a symbol that the Los Angeles defense had finally finished. take over.
This victory completely restarts the Rams' season, now not that far from a balanced record. The Cooper Kupp transfer rumors will perhaps stop. On the Vikings side, we are getting back into line a little with a second setback in a row. The fight in the NFC North is going to be terrible. The next question is how long Christian Darrisaw will be out.
