It’s a showdown of NFC division leaders as the surging Minnesota Vikings host the much-improved Los Angeles Rams.
Los Angeles Rams (7-2) at Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
History
- Rams head to the Twin Cities for the second time in three seasons (21-19 OT loss in ’15 in team’s last meeting).
- Teams meet for the fourth time in six seasons dating back to ’12.
- Vikings have prevailed in four straight meetings dating back to ’09.
Rams By The Numbers
- Defeated Texans, 33-7, in Week 10.
- Rams: 7-2 record in ‘17 (4-12 in ‘16)…
- Won four straight games and four straight on the road.
- RB Todd Gurley: 1,160 yards from scrimmage (754 rushing, 406 receiving), 10 TD in nine games in ’17 (1,212 yards from scrimmage, six TD in 16 games in ‘16).
- QB Jared Goff: 61.2 completion percentage, 2,385 passing yards, 16 TD passes, four INT, sacked 13 times in nine games in ’17 (54.6 comp. pct., 1,089 passing yards, five TD passes, seven INT, sacked 26 times in seven games in ’16).
- Scored 296 points, 26 offensive TD in nine games in ’17 (scored NFL-low 224 points, 23 offensive TD in ’16).
- Allowed 13 sacks in nine games in ’17 (allowed 49 sacks in ’16).
- Allowed 17 points or less in five straight games.
- Allowed 57 points in last five games (allowed 105 points in first 4 games in ’17).
- 19 takeaways in nine games in ’17 (18 takeaways in ’16).
Vikings By The Numbers
- Defeated Redskins, 38-30, in Week 10.
- 7-2 record in ‘17 (8-8 in ‘16).
- Won five straight games (opened 2-2 in ’17).
- Scored 217 points, 22 offensive TD in nine games in ’17 (scored 327 points, 29 offensive TD in ’16).
- 1,062 rushing yards (118.0) in nine games in ’17; NFL-low 1,205 rushing yards (75.3 YPG) in ’16.
- Allowed 732 rushing yards in nine games in ’17 (81.3 YPG); allowed 1,322 rushing yards in last 11 games of ‘16 (120.2 YPG).
- Allowed 10 TD passes in nine games in ’17 (allowed 22 TD passes in ’16).
- 11 takeaways in nine games in ‘17 (27 takeaways in ’16).
Things To Look For
Who would have thought that both of these teams would have made such huge turnarounds after disappointing seasons in 2016? In fact, the Rams haven’t enjoyed a winning season since 2003 and last made the playoffs as an 8-8 team in ’04. Mike Zimmer’s club got off to a great start a year ago only to drop eight of its final 11 contests after opening 5-0. It’s one of the top offenses in the league going against the latest version of the Purple Gang and shapes up as one of those classic matchups.
