- WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
- WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video, NFL+
The Rams might have saved their season this past Sunday with a win over the beleaguered Raiders. Meanwhile, the Vikings fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, losing their first game of the season to the Lions.
The 5-1 Vikings travel to Los Angeles to face the 2-4 Rams — two teams with some interesting connections — on Thursday to kick off Week 8, and both teams could be receiving some long-awaited reinforcements.
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will suit up for the first time since he hurt his ankle in their Week 2 loss against the Cardinals. Likewise, the Vikings could have tight end T.J. Hockenson back for the first time this season after he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee last December.
This game also will be a reunion for the two teams’ head coaches and their first head-to-head meeting. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was the Rams’ offensive coordinator for two seasons under Sean McVay, helping several current Rams and QB Matthew Stafford win Super Bowl LVI. O’Connell has credited McVay’s leadership and offensive innovation for a lot of his own team’s success, as the Vikings currently run a top-10 offense, and the two coaches remain good friends.
They’re also considered two of the best offensive minds and head coaches in the game today. Right now, the pupil’s team is in the driver’s seat despite suffering its first loss of the season in Week 7. Will the teacher — who’s actually younger than O’Connell — have a few tricks up his sleeve?
Here are four things to watch for when the Vikings visit the Rams on Thursday night on Prime Video and NFL+:
1) Can Cooper Kupp give Rams a much-needed offensive boost? The Rams listed Kupp as questionable heading into Week 7, but he was a no-go after testing his ankle pre-game. They won without Kupp but struggled to move the ball consistently against the Raiders, gaining just 259 yards and scoring six points over the final 31-plus minutes of the game. Kupp’s return offers a glimmer of hope, especially for Stafford, who has two TDs and three INTs in the past four games without him. But recent trade rumors swirling around Kupp raise the question of how much help the Rams expect from him, and the 31-year-old wideout has been banged up every year since his Triple Crown season in 2021. Perhaps this game could serve as a trade showcase, with the Rams needing offense badly and wanting to put his skills on display. Stafford threw 21 of his 28 pass attempts toward Kupp in Week 1 and six of 18 attempts (while Kupp was in the game) in Week 2, so there’s a chemistry that can’t be ignored. The Rams lack an offensive identity and have no clear superpower right now. Can Kupp’s expected return help alleviate that? Could Puka Nacua (knee) actually play two days after having his practice window opened? Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and even rookie Jordan Whittington are capable of big plays, but they lack the down-to-down efficiency of a healthy Kupp or Nacua.
2) Brian Flores’ defense looks for a rebound. The Vikings defense arguably had their first tough game of the season last week against a high-powered Lions offense. It was the first time all season Minnesota did not create multiple turnovers (although they did run back a critical fumble for a TD) and allowed an opponent to cross the 30-point mark for the first time since the end of last season. But the Rams, even with Kupp possibly back, don’t possess the weaponry the Lions do; they also have a worse offensive line. These are areas Flores hopes to exploit as Stafford has been sacked 17 times and hit 42 times in six games. The Vikings are a high-pressure defense that blitzes at a 42.9% rate, which is second-highest in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats, but they also use a lot of split-safety looks. No team rushes four less often than the Vikings, so the Rams must be prepared with quick outlets and tight protection, but they also must be prepared to run the ball and force the Vikings out of their preferred looks. O’Connell also coached Stafford during the Super Bowl season, so he surely will have some input on attacking his former QB. Flores and Sean McVay also have a history, with Flores getting the best of McVay in Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots and also beating McVay as a head coach of the Dolphins in the 2020 season. Both times Flores’ defense gave McVay’s offense problems.
3) Rams defense hopes Week 7 was a sign of improvement. In the much-needed win over the Raiders, the Rams forced four critical turnovers and held Las Vegas out of the end zone. The Raiders have nowhere near the skill-position talent the Vikings do, and the Rams had their share of struggles defensively prior to the Week 6 bye, but the hope is the changes in the secondary could help. CB Darious Williams has returned to the lineup, and veteran Tre’Davious White has become a healthy scratch. Cobie Durant had a big game on Sunday, as did undrafted rookie safety Jaylen McCollough, who now has three INTs in two games. Quentin Lake is playing more deep safety, which has pushed Kamren Curl up closer to the line of scrimmage, where he’s been more impactful. They also have CB Ahkello Witherspoon, who had a key pass defended Sunday, back in the fold. The pass rush is heavily dependent on young talent, with rookie Jared Verse leading the way, but fellow rookie Braden Fiske is dealing with back soreness and could miss Thursday. Generating a pass rush might be the best way to get Sam Darnold out of rhythm, but with the Vikings’ strong offensive line, the Rams must also be prepared to hold their coverage and not let Jefferson and Jordan Addison get loose.
4) Sam Darnold returns to L.A. a different QB. Darnold grew up around an hour away from SoFi Stadium and became a college star at USC. He returned to Los Angeles for his first and only career game there in 2020, leading the Jets to a shocking upset of the Rams, but Darnold’s career has taken several twists since then. He’s now emerged as a force for the Vikings, even if Darnold’s production has leveled off a bit, with one TD in his past two games. Sacks have been a problem at times this season with Darnold taking four in half of his games this season. The Rams will try to exploit, but Darnold has managed to keep his turnovers in check (seven in six games). Aaron Jones and a good Vikings run game has kept the team on schedule a lot, too, which has helped the pass game. The possible return of T.J. Hockenson could add a boost, as TEs Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver have combined for 18 catches, 125 yards and two TDs in six games. But Justin Jefferson remains the Vikings’ bread and butter. He’s annoyed at his recent string of 80- and 90-yard games, but this matchup appears favorable. Jefferson has caught eight of his 12 vertical route targets this season for 266 yards and three touchdowns, generating a league-high +20.2 receiving EPA on such routes, according to Next Gen Stats. Likewise, the Rams’ defense has allowed 14.1 yards per target on vertical routes (fifth-most in the NFL), allowing opposing receivers to generate +27.2 EPA (fifth-most).
