Vikings vs. Rams live updates: Score, TV channel, live stream for NFL playoff game

Posted by Admin January 13, 2025 NFL

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A pair of old friends meet in a new venue on Monday night, when the Minnesota Vikings meet the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL wild-card playoff round.

While the game could angle to be the weekend’s best, there’s something of a dark cloud hanging over the matchup: The game was moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, regular home of the Arizona Cardinals, as the greater Los Angeles area continues to fight wildfires that have ravaged the region.

The Rams might feel at least a little bit more comfortable in Arizona, given the Cardinals are an NFC West opponent. Sean McVay, head coach of the NFC West champs, might feel especially comfortable facing off against a former protégé: McVay and the Rams got the better of the Vikings in Week 8, when L.A. took a stunning 30-20 win on “Thursday Night Football.”

Outside of that blemish, it’s been just about all good for the Vikings. Coach Kevin O’Connell has worked wonders this season, specifically with quarterback Sam Darnold. After the loss of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the preseason, a revitalized and effective Darnold helped guide the Vikings to a 14-3 record, which would have been good for first place if not for the 15-2 Detroit Lions.

It’s teacher vs. student Monday night in a wild-card showdown. USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the NFL playoff matchup below.

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The Rams made it past midfield in four plays but their latest drive stalled out from there. An unnecessary roughness penalty on center Beaux Limmer’s late hit on Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel pushed Los Angeles back after the Rams gained 57 yards in four plays.

The Rams couldn’t convert 3rd-and-16 from the Minnesota 27 and settled for a field goal. Joshua Karty drilled it from 34 yards out to give Los Angeles a two-score lead with 4:01 to go in the first quarter.

Award-winning pop musician Rachel Platten sang the national anthem before kickoff of the Vikings-Rams playoff game. Prior to that, she also performed her single “Fight Song” at midfield at State Farm Stadium.

Minnesota’s offense struggled with its first possession. Running back Aaron Jones couldn’t find room on the right side and lost a yard on first down before Rams edge rusher Byron Young sacked quarterback Sam Darnold for an 11-yard loss. The Vikings couldn’t get a first down facing 3rd-and-21 and punted the ball back to Los Angeles.

The Rams will take over on offense at their own 22-yard line with 8:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Matthew Stafford faked a handoff to Kyren Williams on play-action and the Rams’ running back slipped past the line of scrimmage for a five-yard touchdown catch. Joshua Karty’s extra point is good and the Rams take an early lead.

Minnesota committed an offsides one play earlier on fourth-and-1 to setup the scoring play. Stafford completed all six passes on the drive for 64 yards and the touchdown.

Los Angeles went 51 yards in its first three plays on offense to reach the Vikings’ 19-yard line. Quarterback Matthew Stafford found wideout Puka Nacua for a 27-yard gain before throwing to tight end Tyler Higbee for 23 yards two plays later.

The longtime Rams offensive tackle spoke to the crowd ahead of Monday night’s game, vowing to rebuild Los Angeles “hand in hand together.”

Start time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)

The Rams and Vikings both travel for their playoff matchup, as the squads will square off in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Rams would have hosted the playoff game in SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) if the game wasn’t moved.

TV channel: ABC and ESPN | ESPN2

ESPN is the broadcast home of the Rams vs. Vikings playoff game. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be on the call with Lisa Salters patrolling the sidelines.

There will be a “Manningcast” on ESPN2 for tonight’s game, the last of the 2024 NFL season.

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Rams vs. Vikings matchup will play out:

Lorenzo Reyes: Vikings 27, Rams 20
Tyler Dragon: Vikings 28, Rams 25
Jordan Mendoza: Vikings 26, Rams 23

Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

Fans who prefer to stream Rams vs. Vikings can also do so with a subscription to ESPN’s streaming service, ESPN+.

Stream the “Monday Night Football” game on Fubo

The Vikings are favorites to defeat the Rams, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

Spread: Vikings (-1.5)
Moneyline: Vikings (-125); Rams (+105)
Over/under: 47

Looking to make the Rams-Vikings wild-card matchup a bit more interesting? Here are some of the best bets for the game:

QB Daniel Jones
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
C Dan Feeney
OT Walter Rouse
LB Pat Jones II

➤ Daniel Jones is QB3 in first game on active roster

QB Stetson Bennett
WR Tyler Johnson
CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
LB Brennan Jackson
OL Justin Dedich
OL Joe Noteboom

The winner of tonight’s wild-card matchup between the Rams and Vikings will advance to the divisional round and play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. ET.

AFC

NFC

Monday night’s game between the Rams and Vikings will determine the final spot in the NFC’s divisional round.

➤ NFL playoff bracket: See the divisional matchups, schedule

AFC

NFC

Divisional round: Jan. 18-19
Conference championships: Jan. 26
Super Bowl 59: Feb. 9

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The game was initially slated to take place at SoFi Stadium, home to the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, but was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

➤ Has NFL ever moved a playoff game before? LA wildfires puts Rams-Vikings on exclusive list

➤ Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: Where does State Farm Stadium rate?

The Rams vs. Vikings game is being played in Arizona because of the ongoing deadly wildfires in Los Angeles County.

The fires began Tuesday, and the Palisades Fire has already become the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history, scorching over 23,000 acres of land, according to reporting from USA TODAY’s Susan Miller, Josh Peter, Adrianna Rodriguez and Thao Nguyen. The Palisades Fire was 14% contained as of Monday. A total of 24 people have died because of the fires with the death toll likely to increase, per California governor Gavin Newsom.

The ongoing blazes led the NFL to announce Thursday it was relocating the game to Arizona “in the interest of public safety.”

Minnesota and Los Angeles have faced each other 48 times in total, and the Vikings hold an edge in their head-to-head record: 27 wins for them, 19 for the Rams and two ties.

The Rams and Vikings also have a storied history of playoff matchups with seven of them in total. Minnesota holds a 5-2 edge in those meetings. The first postseason clashes between the two teams date back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when both teams were consistently duking it out as the top two teams in the NFC. It’s been a while since their last playoff meeting, when the Rams won, 49-37, in the 1999 divisional round.

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.

The Vikings have made four Super Bowl appearances, but have yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. Minnesota’s last Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl XI during the 1976 season.

The Rams have played in five Super Bowls — winning two, most recently Super Bowl 56 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game

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