(Photo: Sporting News)
NFC Wild Card
(5) Minnesota Vikings at (4) Los Angeles Rams
Vikings: They were clicking on all cylinders at one point during the regular season and in their big game against the Detroit Lions to determine a division champion and the winner would receive the top seed in the NFC, they didn’t bother to show up. Unfortunately, they picked the worst time to play their worst game and they were blown out by the Lions to close out the regular season. Outside of that, the Minnesota Vikings have been such a solid football team and in week 18, they just didn’t have it and it happens. Throws that Sam Darnold made throughout the year, he couldn’t connect on, the running game had a tough time getting jumpstarted, and the defense which has been one of the best in the league struggled to do much of anything and get off the field. The negatives are out of the way, now let’s look at the positives. This is a good football that does many things very well. First, the Quarterback’s play was stellar this year and we can knock Sam for his game against the Lions, but let’s not ignore what he was able to accomplish this year and this was the best season of his career. This football team won 14 games this year which is their most since 1998 when they went 15-1 en route to the NFC Championship game. Tonight, they will face a team that handed them one of their three losses this season in a rematch.
Rams: This was a team that was 1-4 and wasn’t expected to compete or make any noise this year. I thought this would be a rebuilding year after losing Aaron Donald to retirement. Also, they dealt with numerous injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua throughout the year. One thing that’s for sure and two things that are for certain is they will forever have a chance with Matthew Stafford who is still one of the more productive Quarterbacks in the league and Sean McVay who is still a top-five Head Coach in my eyes. The NFC West was a mess this year with the Arizona Cardinals showing flashes of potential, the Seahawks won 10 games and missed the playoffs and the San Francisco 49ers were decimated by the injury bug and lost 11 games. Then, you had the Los Angeles Rams who got themselves into a rhythm and never let up. When Cooper and Puka are on the field together and healthy, Stafford uses each of them consistently to attack defenses and I always say it, being healthy makes all the difference. What’s stood out to me has been their defense and I love how they play for one another. This is a stingy group and let’s be realistic here, there’s no replacing a future Hall of Famer in Aaron, instead, it takes a group effort to fill those shoes. They’ll host the Minnesota Vikings tonight to close out the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.
Vikings X-Factor: Dallas Turner– This Minnesota defense has been headlined by so many playmakers and this is one of them. Patrick Jones hasn’t practiced this week and that means Dallas will see more playing time. I watched him quite a bit during his college days with the Alabama Crimson Tide as he went from playing alongside Will Anderson Jr to being the guy they built the defense around. Dallas is so athletic and he hustles on every play. He’s still young and will only develop even more into an all-around defensive player for this defense. Dallas has game-breaking potential and all he needs is playing time which he will get tonight.
Rams X-Factor: Braden Fiske– He’s contributed to a young Rams defense this year. During the regular season, Braden recorded 32 pressures and also added 8.5 sacks. In other words, he has what it takes to impact the pocket and can match a physical Minnesota Offensive Line with his physicality. The Vikings have also struggled on the interior of their line with power and that’s where Braden can attack them. I can see the rookie defender impacting tonight when his team needs him the most. He and Jared else were quite the tandem at Florida State together and they are looking to do the same in the NFL as teammates again.
Final Thoughts: It’s the finale of the Wild Card round! The winner of this game will be making their way to Philadelphia for a showdown with the Eagles next Sunday afternoon. This game was moved from California to Arizona due to the wildfires that have broken out in Cali and I’m wishing my best to those who have been impacted. Switching gears, these two met back in week eight and the Rams upset the Vikings by ten points. Tonight, I see this game being much closer. What do we see from Sam Darnold? Last week on the biggest stage, he crumbled and struggled, but for most of the season, he was playing at an elite level. One key for the Vikings is to get Sam comfortable meaning to incorporate Aaron Jones a little more and get into a rhythm meaning to take what a defense gives him and he doesn’t always need a shot down the field. I need to see quick passes to neutralize a Rams front that will bring the heat. Next, the defense must throw Stafford off his spots and get the Rams’ offense into those long-yardage situations. The Rams, have those answers for the Minnesota pressures. Be efficient in the running game and create takeaways while protecting the football yourselves. I know this is a game the Rams want and they will be playing for all of Los Angeles amid the wildfires. I’m picking the Rams to win this game tonight.
Prediction: Rams 27, Vikings 24