Vikings-Rams live score updates: NFL wild card playoffs on MNF

Follow along for live updates throughout this wild card playoff matchup in Arizona.

Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell watches game action against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It's finally playoff time for the Vikings, who are in Arizona to take on the Rams in the final game of wild card weekend.

This is a fascinating matchup for the eighth and final spot in the divisional round of the postseason. The 14-3 Vikings won four more games this year than the 10-7 Rams, but one of those three losses came against Matthew Stafford and company in October. That game was at SoFi Stadium on a short week. This one is at the Cardinals' State Farm Stadium on an extra long week. Plenty of Vikings fans are in the crowd in the desert to cheer on their team.

Perhaps the biggest storyline in this game surrounds Sam Darnold, who turned his career around this season with the Vikings and was a deserving Pro Bowl selection. Darnold had a great year, but he's coming off a dud of a performance in last weekend's huge showdown with the Lions. If he doesn't bounce back tonight, not only could the Vikings' season come to an end, but Darnold's upcoming contract in free agency could take a serious hit. There's a lot on the line for him in his first career playoff start.

The good news for Darnold is that he's going against a Rams defense that wasn't very good this season. Los Angeles has an impressive front four of rookies and second-year players (Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, Kobie Turner) but not a whole lot else that scares you defensively. Darnold will look to lean on his weapons (Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson) and lead the Vikings to the next round.

Defensively, the matchup between Stafford and Sean McVay's offense against Brian Flores' outstanding Vikings defense should be an excellent one. Stafford lit up Flores' group in October, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of adjustments are made. Can the Vikings get home with pressure and create a takeaway or two?

Follow along below for live updates throughout the game.

Live updates

Third quarter

Rams 27, Vikings 9

5:05 — The Vikings finally scored a touchdown! Unfortunately, they didn't get the two-point conversion, so it's still a three-score game.

Rams 27, Vikings 3

7:19 — The Rams tack on a field goal.

13:32 — The Vikings punt on the opening possession of the third quarter. They're on life support.

Second quarter

Rams 24, Vikings 3

0:15 — My goodness. It's a three-touchdown lead for the Rams at halftime after Stafford's second touchdown pass of the day.

1:31 — The Vikings just turned it over on downs at midfield when Sam Darnold was sacked for the sixth time in the half. This has been an abject disaster.

Rams 17, Vikings 3

4:35 — The Rams' defense strikes with a strip sack that Jared Verse takes to the house. It's been quite the eventful second quarter. The Vikings had a defensive touchdown overturned on review, threw a pick, lost a fumble that was overturned on review, and then actually lost a fumble for a TD.

Rams 10, Vikings 3

14:17 — The Vikings have to settle for three points. Still, they needed to get at least something out of that drive, and they did.

First quarter

0:00 — As the opening quarter ends, the Vikings have moved the ball a bit and gotten into field goal range.

Rams 10, Vikings 0

4:01 — The Rams' offense continued to move the ball with ease on their second possession, but an unnecessary roughness penalty forced them to settle for a field goal. The Vikings really need their offense to respond.

8:10 — A run loses yards on first down, Sam Darnold gets sacked on second down, and the Vikings go three and out. A brutal start for Minnesota.

Rams 7, Vikings 0

10:22 — Not the start the Vikings wanted. The Rams drove down the field, got Jonathan Bullard to jump offside on 4th and 1, and then scored on a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Kyren Williams. Let's see if Minnesota's offense can respond.