The Minnesota Vikings will meet the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC Wild Card game at SoFi Stadium on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET. The Vikings (14-3) finished second in the NFC North and are coming off a tough loss to Detroit, while the Rams (10-7) secured the NFC West title but lost their season finale to Seattle. The two teams faced off earlier this season, with Los Angeles winning 30-20 at home.
This matchup was relocated to Arizona due to safety concerns from wildfires in Los Angeles. Both teams enter the playoffs with questions to answer, as Minnesota aims to regain its offensive momentum, and Los Angeles looks to rediscover its early-season defensive form.
Minnesota Vikings Preview – Darnold’s Time to Shine
The Vikings had a strong regular season behind quarterback Sam Darnold, who threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He struggled in the Week 18 loss to Detroit, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards. Darnold will look to bounce back against a Rams defense ranked 26th in total yards allowed.
Justin Jefferson remains Darnold’s top target, finishing second in the league with 1,533 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Running back Aaron Jones provides balance on the ground, rushing for 1,138 yards and five scores this season. The Vikings’ offense ranks sixth in passing yards but only 19th in rushing, which could be a factor against the Rams’ run defense.
Defensively, Minnesota will rely on its solid pass rush and a secondary led by veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore. They rank seventh in quarterback rating allowed (100.3) and will aim to pressure Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford into mistakes.
Los Angeles Rams Preview – Stafford Leads the Way
The Rams’ offense has been inconsistent, finishing 10th in total scoring but struggling in the final weeks of the season. Matthew Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, with his main targets being Puka Nacua (990 yards) and Cooper Kupp (710 yards). Running back Kyren Williams led the ground game with 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Los Angeles started the season 1-4 but rallied to win nine of their last 11 games to capture the NFC West. Despite injuries on the offensive line and at wide receiver, they managed to adapt with contributions from younger players like Nacua. However, their offense averaged just 14.7 points per game over their final three wins, relying heavily on their defense.
The Rams’ defensive front has been anchored by a young core, including Byron Young and Kobie Turner. They will need a strong performance to slow down the Vikings’ passing attack. Key injuries, including the loss of tackle Rob Havenstein, could test their depth.
Betting Prediction
Minnesota is a 2.5-point favorite, with the total set at 48 points. The Vikings’ passing attack led by Darnold and Jefferson could exploit a Rams defense that ranks 26th in yards per play allowed. However, Los Angeles has shown resilience at home and has Stafford’s playoff experience to rely on.
Expect a close game with Minnesota narrowly covering the spread. The total may stay under if both defenses can disrupt the passing attacks. A predicted scoreline of 24-20 in favor of the Vikings seems reasonable.
Pick: Minnesota -2.5, Under 48.0
