Wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp made their return to the Los Angeles Rams during their Week 8 ‘Thursday Night Football’ match against the Minnesota Vikings. With their key players back in good health, the Rams displayed a revitalized performance.

Los Angeles handed Minnesota their second consecutive defeat with a 30-20 victory on Thursday night. Kupp and Nacua combined for 12 receptions, totaling 157 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards, throwing four touchdowns with one interception.

The Vikings’ defense, which had previously been formidable throughout the season, struggled significantly in this game. They allowed the first touchdown of the first quarter for the year during the Rams’ opening drive, and the 28 points conceded were the third-highest this season, following last week’s 31 against the Detroit Lions and 29 against the Green Bay Packers during Week 4.

Compounding the Vikings’ troubles, star left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who recently signed a four-year, $113 million extension, suffered a knee injury. Darrisaw got tangled up with a Rams defender late in the first half and was promptly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Here’s a recap of how the Rams’ victory unfolded on ‘Thursday Night Football’:

Vikings vs. Rams Highlights

Final Score: Rams 30, Vikings 20

Los Angeles scores a safety and avoids a facemask penalty

Los Angeles increased their lead to 10 points after sacking Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in the end zone. Although the tackle was made while grabbing Darnold’s face mask, the officials did not call a penalty. It was a play that could not be reviewed.

Minnesota attempted an onside kick, but Rams running back Kyren Williams recovered the ball with 1:36 left on the clock.

Rams clinch the victory with a score of 30-20.

Rams increase lead as Demarcus Robinson scores again

Robinson executed a perfect post-corner route to outmaneuver the Vikings’ zone coverage in the end zone. Stafford successfully located his receiver in the back-right corner for his fourth touchdown pass, extending the Rams’ advantage.

The Rams lead 28-20 with 6:17 left in the game.

Will Reichard stays flawless, brings Vikings within one

Rookie kicker Will Reichard has maintained a perfect record, going 14-for-14 on field goals and 20-for-20 on extra points in seven games. Two minutes into the fourth quarter, his 35-yard field goal narrowed the gap to just one point.

The Rams now lead 21-20 with under 13 minutes remaining in the game.

End of Third Quarter: Rams 21, Vikings 17

As the fourth quarter begins, Minnesota risks falling to their second consecutive loss after starting the season with five straight wins. They will start the quarter with the ball at the Los Angeles 48-yard line on third-and-3.

Demarcus Robinson’s touchdown gives Rams their first lead

Matthew Stafford delivered a perfectly timed pass to Robinson for a 25-yard touchdown, concluding a 70-yard drive. Thanks to the precise throw, Robinson managed to catch the ball right between the arms of the defender, granting the Rams their first lead.

The score is now 21-17 for Los Angeles with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

Will Reichard regains the lead for Vikings

The Vikings kicker remains unbeaten this season. His latest successful 23-yard field goal put Minnesota back in the lead with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Current score stands at 17-14 for the Vikings.

Justin Jefferson pulls off another remarkable catch

In a spectacular moment, while being held, Jefferson reached out with one hand to snag a deep pass from Sam Darnold. Despite bobbling the ball several times, he managed to secure it as he fell out of bounds, placing the Vikings at the Los Angeles 4-yard line.

Byron Murphy intercepts Matthew Stafford, halting Rams’ drive

Los Angeles made their way into Vikings territory on their first drive of the second half, but Murphy halted their momentum with an interception. This allowed Minnesota to regain possession at their own 27-yard line with 12:08 left in the third quarter.

The game remains tied, 14-14.

Halftime: Vikings 14, Rams 14

Injury Update: Vikings OT Christian Darrisaw

Darrisaw was injured during one of the last plays of the half after being rolled up on and went down, clutching his left knee. Medical staff attended to him on the field before helping him walk back to the locker room, appearing unable to bear weight on his left leg.

David Quessenberry took over for Darrisaw during a quarterback kneel, which capped the half’s final play.

Darrisaw has since been ruled out for the remainder of the game due to his knee injury.

Matthew Stafford dodges a sack, delivers game-tying touchdown to Cooper Kupp

The Rams’ quarterback evaded attempts from two Vikings defenders to sack him with an impressive juke and ducks under during a second-and-goal play from the Minnesota 7-yard line.

While in the pocket, Stafford delivered a precise pass to Kupp, who had been sidelined for the last four games due to an ankle injury from Week 2.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the score is tied at 14 points each.

End of First Quarter: Vikings 14, Rams 7

As the first quarter concludes, the Los Angeles Rams are positioned near midfield, continuing their second offensive series. Puka Nacua has been the standout performer for the Rams with 50 yards on three receptions.

Sam Darnold Shines, Vikings Go 2-for-2 as Trent Sherfield Scores

The Minnesota Vikings orchestrated another disciplined 70-yard drive during their second offensive outing. Darnold connected with Sherfield for a 10-yard touchdown after faking a play-action, maintaining his perfect record and putting Minnesota back in the lead.

Darnold completed all eight of his passes for 97 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the Vikings’ first two drives.

The score favors Minnesota 14-7 with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

Rams Respond with Kyren Williams Touchdown

The Rams’ running back executed an angle route out of the backfield and found himself wide open over the middle. Matthew Stafford easily completed the pass, enabling Los Angeles to finish a 70-yard drive with a touchdown that matched Minnesota’s initial score. This marks the first touchdown the Vikings have conceded in the first quarter all season.

The game is tied at 7 with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.

Puka Nacua Makes His First Catch Since Week 1

Nacua initially dropped his first target during the Rams’ opening drive, but Stafford quickly returned to him. The second-year receiver secured a 13-yard catch, returning to play after recovering from a knee injury suffered in Week 1.

Vikings Forge Ahead with Josh Oliver Touchdown

With 10:43 remaining in the first quarter, Minnesota leads 7-0.

Vikings’ Kam Curl Injured Early in the First Quarter

During the opening possession, Curl injured his lower body while tackling Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Rams’ safety appeared to clutch his left knee after making the tackle.

Rookie safety Kamren Kinchens stepped in for Curl following the incident. The Rams have listed Curl as questionable to return due to the knee injury.

Rams vs. Vikings Kickoff

• Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The matchup between the Rams and Vikings marks the beginning of Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season as part of “Thursday Night Football,” kicking off at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Rams vs. Vikings Viewing Information

• Live Stream: Amazon Prime Video

The “Thursday Night Football” game will be exclusively available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Catch “Thursday Night Football” with your Prime Video subscription

Rams vs. Vikings Predictions

The YSL News Sports team shares their expectations for the “TNF” matchup between the Vikings and Rams:

• Lorenzo Reyes: Vikings 28, Rams 17
• Tyler Dragon: Vikings 26, Rams 20
• Richard Morin: Vikings 24, Rams 21
• Jordan Mendoza: Vikings 23, Rams 19

Rams vs. Vikings Betting Odds

The Vikings are favored to win against the Rams, according to BetMGM NFL odds. Interested in placing a bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024, such as the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

• Spread: Vikings (-2.5)
• Moneyline: Vikings (-145); Rams (+120)
• Over/under: 47.5

If this game doesn’t catch your interest, our guide to NFL betting odds, picks, and spreads has insights for Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football betting.

New to sports betting? YSL News readers can access exclusive promotions and bonus codes from top online sportsbooks and betting sites.

Current NFC West Standings

The Rams come into the Week 8 “TNF” face-off sitting at the bottom of the NFC West. A victory tonight would elevate Los Angeles to third place, surpassing the 49ers, whom they defeated in Week 3. They would still remain behind the Cardinals, who have the tiebreaker over them thanks to their Week 2 victory.

1. Seahawks 4-3
2. Cardinals 3-4
3. 49ers 3-4
4. Rams 2-4

Current NFC North Standings

The Vikings enter the Week 8 “TNF” game in second place within the NFC North. The Lions defeated the Vikings last week and now hold the tiebreaker in the division.

1. Lions 5-1
2. Vikings 5-1
3. Packers 5-2
4. Bears 4-2

Rams vs. Vikings Weather Forecast

In Inglewood, the weather is expected to be clear with a kickoff temperature of 68 degrees, dropping to 63 degrees by 9 p.m. PT. Based on the Weather Channel information,

The winds for the game will reach a maximum of eight mph, with the likelihood of rain below 3% throughout. Since the match will occur indoors at SoFi Stadium, weather conditions won’t influence the game.

Who will be announcing Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video?

Al Michaels will be doing play-by-play commentary alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit for the Prime Video broadcast, while Kaylee Hartung will be reporting from the sidelines and Terry McAulay will serve as the rules analyst.

The pregame, halftime, and postgame shows on Prime Video will be hosted by Charissa Thompson, featuring former NFL stars Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman, and Andrew Whitworth as analysts.

Taylor Rooks will report features for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football,” with Albert Breer contributing reports and analyses.

Historical matchups: Rams vs. Vikings

These two NFC rivals have faced off 47 times, including seven playoff games. The Vikings lead the all-time series with a record of 27 wins against 18 losses and 2 ties.

The last encounter was in December 2021 during Week 16, where the Rams triumphed with a 30-23 victory on the road in Minnesota. This win helped propel the Rams forward into the final stretch of the season and eventually into the playoffs, where they went on to capture the Super Bowl against the Bengals.

What is Al Michaels’ salary for ‘Thursday Night Football’ with Amazon Prime?

According to Andrew Marchand from the New York Post, Al Michaels’ contract is expected to last three years with a figure exceeding $30 million, though this amount may have increased.

A week later, in March 2022, Marchand noted that the deal with Amazon would be comparable to Joe Buck’s contract, who secured a five-year deal worth $75 million ($15 million annually) with ESPN earlier that month.

Who are the top-paid NFL players by position?

We have an updated list of the highest earners by position:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Wide receivers
• Tight ends
• Offensive tackles
• Offensive guards
• Centers
• Edge rushers
• Interior defensive linemen
• Linebackers
• Cornerbacks
• Safeties
• Kickers
• Punters

Who is currently the highest-paid player in the NFL?

The top 18 NFL players based on average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player during the preseason, agreeing to a four-year contract worth $240 million. Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has become the first non-quarterback to join the highest-paid ranks with his recent four-year, $140 million extension this offseason.

Rams WR Puka Nacua is set to play in Week 8

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Rams will have both of their wide receivers back on the field for Thursday night’s game.

Puka Nacua has been officially cleared to play against the Minnesota Vikings, as announced by the Rams.

This week, Nacua had his 21-day practice window opened, and he was activated off injured reserve just hours before the game, getting ready for his return.

Nacua had been placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions, missing the last five games.

Additionally, wide receiver Cooper Kupp will also return after being sidelined for the last four games. Nacua and Kupp have only shared the field together once this season. — Tyler Dragon

Injury report for the Los Angeles Rams

• QB Stetson Bennett (emergency third QB)
• RB Cody Schrader
• WR Jordan Whittington
• DE Desjuan Johnson
• CB Tre’Davious White

Injury report for the Minnesota Vikings

• QB Brett Rypien (emergency third QB)
• CB Akayleb Evans
• CB Dwight McGlothern
• RB Myles Gaskin
• DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
• LB Blake Cashman
• OT Walter Rouse