The Los Angeles Rams offense came to life on Thursday night as quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for four touchdowns in a crucial 30-20 victory over the visiting Minnesota Vikings. The win improved the Rams’ record to 3-4 on the season and gave them back-to-back victories for the first time in 2024.
Stafford Spreads the Ball Around
Stafford finished the game with an impressive stat line, completing 23 of 34 passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. The veteran quarterback spread the ball around to his playmakers, with nine different Rams catching passes on the night.
The biggest beneficiaries were wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua. Robinson hauled in two touchdown catches, including a 25-yarder late in the third quarter that put the Rams ahead for good. Nacua, returning from a five-game absence due to injury, led the team with 106 receiving yards on seven receptions.
“It felt great to be back out there making plays and helping the team win,” Nacua said after the game. “Matthew was dealing tonight and put the ball right where it needed to be. We’ve got a lot of weapons on this offense.”
Kupp Makes Clutch Plays in Return
All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp also made his return after missing four games. While his final numbers were modest (5 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown), Kupp came up big when it mattered most. His 27-yard reception on 3rd and long with under three minutes remaining helped seal the victory for Los Angeles.
“Having Cooper and Puka back opened everything up for us,” Stafford explained in his postgame press conference. “They are such dynamic playmakers and always seem to get open. It makes my job a lot easier when I can just get them the ball and let them work.”
Defense Makes Timely Plays
Not to be outdone, the Rams defense came up with several key stops, holding Minnesota to just two field goals in the second half. Rookie defensive tackle Byron Young provided the exclamation point, sacking Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in the end zone for a safety with 1:36 remaining to ice the game.
The play was not without controversy, as replay appeared to show Young grabbing Darnold’s facemask, which should have resulted in a penalty. However, no flag was thrown.
Referee thought Sam Darnold decided to just twist his own head off. No facemask. Just Darnold trying to go full Exorcist out there. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/ba7EDjodAQ
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) October 25, 2024
Minnesota falls to 5-2 with the loss but remains in first place in the NFC North. The Vikings will look to rebound next week when they host the Arizona Cardinals.
Up Next for the Rams
Los Angeles will have a few extra days to savor this victory before hitting the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 3rd. Thursday’s impressive offensive performance should give Stafford and company plenty of confidence heading into that matchup with Tom Brady’s Bucs.
At 3-4, the Rams still have an uphill battle to get back into playoff contention. But if the offense can continue to click like it did against Minnesota, this team has the talent to make a second half run. With Kupp and Nacua healthy and Robinson emerging as a legitimate red zone threat, the pieces are in place for Stafford to return to his Super Bowl form from a few seasons ago.
Rams fans have to be encouraged by what they saw on Thursday night. While there is still a lot of football left to be played, this decisive victory over a quality opponent could prove to be a turning point in Los Angeles’ season. If Stafford and his plethora of playmakers can maintain this level of play, the Rams will be a dangerous team that no one wants to face down the stretch and into the postseason.
