Can the Vikings reclaim the drive to a magical season for the ages with Sam Darnold against the Rams?
The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams are set to battle this evening in Glendale, AZ at the home of the Arizona Cardinals. The ESPN Monday Night Football Super Wild Card Weekend finale was moved from Inglewood, CA due to the devastating wildfires in California.
While the Cardinals’ stadium and grounds crew have done all they can to make it feel like a home game for the Rams, this is as close to a neutral site as a playoff game gets outside the Super Bowl.
The Vikings were perhaps the league’s biggest surprise of the season — and had a chance to earn the one seed as late as Week 18, when they played the last game of the regular season against the Detroit Lions. Things didn’t go Minnesota’s way, so now they enter the playoffs as a 14-3 five seed traveling to face a the 10-7 NFC West Champion Rams.
Does location matter this evening, and find favor with the Vikings? Given the circumstances surrounding the devastation in California, it would be easy to understand how the Rams may be affected, and at least sidetracked. Though professional athletes are known to thrive in the face of adversity, and often play their best when their home city needs a lift the most.
Moreover, perhaps LA finds extra motivation playing in a stadium named after the company that just last week dropped fire coverage from thousands of California residents’ insurance policies?
Make no mistake, the bigger story here is why the game was moved — not where it’s being played, or even the outcome when considering California right now. But the game must go on, and counting out LA would be unwise. That said, the Rams enter this evening as “home” underdogs (+2.5) with FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U 47.5)
For Buffalo Bills fans, Minnesota’s incredible season comes at a cost, which is of course that second-round pick Buffalo has in the 2025 NFL Draft — sent to them as part of a trade with the Houston Texans for wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Houston sent the pick, originally the Vikings’, back to One Bills Drive.
So although most expected Minnesota to be a middling team at best with a green rookie quarterback, Sam Darnold had other plans if given the opportunity. It won’t change positioning a great deal, but if the Vikings lose, it would stop that coveted second-round pick from dropping even further down the board.
Do you care about where that pick lands, Bills Mafia — or are you all-in on the Vikings unlikely quest for a Super Bowl berth? I’m here for Minnesota’s success (as the only other NFL team to have suffered four Super Bowl losses), though disappointed success this season directly impacts Buffalo’s roster options.
At the heart of things, I’m looking to find some good news for California right now. The Rams winning this evening would help lift the spirits of many who need any positive sign to cling to these days. So, I’m all-in on LA tonight as outright winners.
Of note: The Rams were one of three teams to hand the Vikings a loss in the regular season, winning 30-20 at SoFi Stadium in Week 7.
Los Angeles Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 24
Here’s your open thread for the final game of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend. As always, be kind to one another — and in all things… Go Bills!