by INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have missed most of the season due to injuries, and the Los Angeles Rams’ dismal record reflects that.
When both star receivers returned at the same prime time, they provided exactly what Matthew Stafford and the Rams had been missing all year – and that’s what the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t accomplish.
Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Nacua had 106 yards in his return to the lineup and Stafford passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the Los Angeles Rams’ 30-20 victory over the Vikings on Thursday night.
Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes from Stafford for the Rams (3-4), who won back-to-back games for the first time this season with 386 yards from an offense that looked exponentially more dangerous with its top two receivers in uniform .
“They gave our team a lot of energy and a lot of confidence,” said Stafford, who had thrown a total of just three TD passes in the Rams’ first six games. “It’s not just the offense. I know when these guys are out there playing, the defense feels it too.”
After missing the previous five games, Nacua hauled in seven catches, earning the eighth 100-yard game of his short career. Kupp returned from a four-game absence with five catches for 51 yards, including a 27-yard grab for a crucial first down late in the fourth quarter.
“It was just so much fun,” Kupp said. “On offense we were just able to find ways to keep the posts moving. The guys just did their job and it was pretty cool to see us go.”
Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD pass for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass He gave Los Angeles the lead late in the third quarter, and he made a 10-yard TD catch with 6:17 left to take a 28-20 lead.
Byron Young then sacked Sam Darnold for a safety with 1:36 left, grabbing Darnold’s facemask in the process. The officials didn’t throw a flag, sealing the Rams’ second win in five days after they were 1-4 before their bye.
“I believe in this group,” said coach Sean McVay, who became the winningest coach in Rams history with his 80th win. “I saw determination. I didn’t see any twitching. … We did a good job of getting back to where we wanted to be.”
McVay also won his first head-to-head matchup with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was his offensive coordinator during the Rams’ Super Bowl championship season three years ago.
“I think we were close on a few plays,” O’Connell said. “But when you play against that quarterback and those receivers get healthy and go out there and make some plays for them, I think it just comes down to (whether we) can get enough rushing and coverage together that a quarterback like that might not be able to do to give a few extra clicks.”
Darnold passed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who had an ineffective defensive performance following their first loss of the season. Minnesota also lost starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a left knee injury late in the first half.
Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards, while Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota suffered two field goals in the final three quarters.
“We just have to be more consistent on offense,” Darnold said. “The face mask is what it is. I thought there was a lot we could have done to not put ourselves in the situation we found ourselves in.”
Stafford threw at least four TD passes for the 16th time in his career, including four with the Rams. The veteran also passed Dan Marino for ninth place in NFL history in total completions.
Both teams scored touchdowns on their first two drives in front of a sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. Darnold went 8 for 8 on those drives, while Stafford clearly enjoyed having his two favorite targets back in uniform.
Williams caught a short pass on the Rams’ first drive and scored a touchdown in his 10th straight game. The Vikings hadn’t allowed a TD in the first quarter all season, and the Rams hadn’t scored on their first drive all season.
Byron Murphy intercepted a pass from Stafford in the third, and Minnesota took a 17-14 lead after Jefferson extended the drive a shaky, one-handed reception.
Vikings: TE TJ Hockenson (knee) and G Dalton Risner (back) were out. … Darrisaw was injured as Minnesota tried to run out the clock to end the first half. O’Connell did not have a postgame update.
Rams: Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was inactive with a shoulder injury. … S Kam Curl injured his knee in the first quarter but returned in the second.
Vikings: Host Indianapolis in a Sunday night game on November 3rd.
Rams: At Seattle on November 3rd.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
