Live Coverage: Vikings Prepare for High-Stakes Rematch Against the Rams
For Minnesota Vikings fans, seasons like this are rare yet unforgettable. This 2024 squad feels like it belongs alongside those legendary teams of ’98, ’09, and ’17—teams that seemed destined to break the franchise’s championship curse. But will this one end differently?
The first step toward answering that question comes on Monday night, as the Vikings face the Los Angeles Rams in Arizona. Both teams are riding momentum: Minnesota has gone 9-1 since their last meeting, while L.A. is 7-3 in that stretch. While the Rams’ defense is talented but inexperienced, the real challenge lies in stopping Matthew Stafford, his receiving corps, and the offensive wizardry of Sean McVay.
The key question: can Brian Flores, Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, outsmart Stafford and McVay this time around?
Breaking Down the First Meeting
The last clash between these teams in Week 8 saw the Rams’ offense shine despite Flores’ aggressive strategy. Stafford was blitzed heavily but thrived under pressure, completing 10 of 13 passes for 128 yards against the blitz and scoring a touchdown in every quarter. The Rams converted 26 first downs across nine drives, aided by Minnesota penalties.
L.A. was especially effective on late downs, posting a 66.7% rushing success rate and 0.71 EPA/play on third and fourth downs. Even with an injury-riddled offensive line, the Vikings failed to sack Stafford, allowing him time to exploit Minnesota’s zone-heavy coverage schemes. At the time, the Vikings ran zone nearly 90% of the game, a far cry from their recent shift toward man coverage.
What Must Change for Minnesota
For Minnesota to succeed this time, Flores’ defense must force a slower start from the Rams’ offense. In Week 8, the Vikings limited L.A. to just 3.3 yards per rush, a performance they’ll need to replicate to put Stafford in difficult passing situations.
This rematch will also feature a healthy Rams offensive line, including standout left guard Steve Avila, who missed the first meeting. The Vikings must disrupt Stafford’s rhythm early, especially considering L.A.’s efficiency against two-high coverage schemes like Cover 2 and Quarters.
Adjusting to Puka Nacua
One key difference in this game is the presence of Puka Nacua, the Rams’ emerging star receiver, who was activated just hours before the first matchup. Nacua and veteran Cooper Kupp form a savvy, dependable duo, but neither excels as a one-on-one separator.
This could be the perfect opportunity for Flores to deploy more man coverage, perhaps even assigning Byron Murphy Jr. to shadow Nacua. Murphy has experience in such roles, having shadowed Kupp during his time with Arizona in 2023. Expect the Vikings to also deploy bracket coverage on Nacua, forcing Stafford to rely on less dynamic options.
McVay’s Pre-Snap Mastery
The Rams’ offense excelled against the Vikings’ two-high schemes in their first meeting, particularly by targeting “corner” routes. Whether Stafford hit the Cover 2 hole shot or anticipated breaks against backpedaling defenders in Quarters coverage, L.A. consistently found ways to exploit leverage.
McVay’s ability to manipulate Minnesota’s defensive alignment pre-snap will be a critical factor once again. However, the Vikings’ recent shift toward single-high safety looks (Cover 1 and Cover 3) could disrupt the Rams’ rhythm.
What’s at Stake
The winner of this matchup earns a trip to face the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. For Minnesota, advancing will require further adjustments to their defensive scheme, especially against a physical Eagles ground game. But first, they must prove they can overcome one of the only teams to beat them in the regular season.
Will the Vikings finally break their cycle of heartbreak, or will this season end like so many others? The journey continues Monday night.
