Los Angeles Rams vs Minnesota Vikings January 13th 2025

ABC will televise this Wild Card round NFC matchup between the Vikings and Rams. The game, set for 8:00 ET on Monday, January 13th, is being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. The Vikings are favored on the road with a money line of -134 and a point spread of -2.5. The Rams’ money line odds are +113, and the over/under line is set at 47 points.

Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Vikings at Rams
• Where: SoFi Stadium Inglewood
• Date: Monday, January 13th
• Betting Odds MIN -134 | LAR +113 O/U 47

The Vikings Can Win If…

After finishing the regular season at 14-3, the Vikings will head to Los Angeles to take on the Rams in the Wild Card round. Minnesota ranks 5th in the NFC and 8th in our power rankings. They went 8-1 at home and 6-2 on the road, including a 28-6 win over the Giants in week 1. The Vikings were favored by 1 point in that game and covered the spread, bouncing back from a week 18 loss to the Lions.

Against the spread, Minnesota went 11-5-1 this season, with an average scoring margin of +5.9 points. They were 7-4-1 as favorites and 4-1 as underdogs. Their O/U record was 7-10, with their games averaging 44.9 points compared to a 45.4-point line.

Sam Darnold has been impressive over his last three games, posting passer ratings of 119, 109, and 113, respectively. In his most recent outing, he threw for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns without an interception in week 3. Justin Jefferson has been Darnold’s favorite target, with 81 yards on 6 catches in week 3, following a 133-yard performance in week 2.

Our NFL.com power rankings have the Vikings’ offense ranked 11th. They are 9th in the league in points per game, averaging 25.4, and 12th in yards per game with 346.9. Minnesota has been strong in the 1st quarter, ranking 2nd in the NFL in scoring.

The Vikings’ defense had a tough game in their 31-9 loss to the Lions, giving up 394 total yards and 178 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Despite allowing 216 passing yards, they only gave up one passing touchdown and managed to intercept two passes. Opposing quarterbacks completed 81.8% of their passes against Minnesota.

On third downs, the Vikings allowed the Lions to convert 41.7% of their chances. Minnesota did have two sacks and won the tackles for loss battle.

• Minnesota will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 2-1.
• Minnesota has put together a record of 9-1 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the spread sits at 6-3-1 in these matchups, while posting a 4-6 over-under mark.

The Rams Can Win If…

After a week 3 win over the 49ers, the Rams dropped their final three games, including a 26-20 loss to the Lions in week 1. This put Los Angeles at 10-7, which was still good enough to win the NFC West. The Rams went 4-2 in division play and 6-6 against the NFC, and they rank 4th in the conference.

Heading into the playoffs, the Rams have an average scoring margin of -1.1 points per game and are 9-8 against the spread. They are 4-3 ATS as favorites and 5-4 as underdogs. Their O/U record is 8-9, with an average of 44.3 points scored in their games.

Heading into the Wild Card round, the Rams rank 15th in our offensive power rankings, averaging 21.6 points per game, which is 19th in the NFL. They are 15th in the league in total yards per game (331.4) and 10th in passing yards, with 227.5 per game. On the ground, they rank 23rd in rushing yards per game, averaging 103.8 on 26.5 attempts per game. The Rams are 20th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage (36.8%) and 24th in 1st-quarter scoring.

In their Week 3 win over the 49ers, the Rams scored 13 points in the 4th quarter. Matthew Stafford threw for 221 yards and a touchdown, with a passer rating of 105. Kyren Williams had 89 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, while Tutu Atwell led the team with 93 receiving yards. The Rams converted 41.7% of their 3rd-down attempts and went 3/5 in the red zone.

In their 30-25 loss to the Seahawks, the Rams’ defense struggled to defend the pass, allowing four touchdowns through the air. Despite holding the Seahawks to 126 yards on 24 rushing attempts, the Rams gave up 210 passing yards on just 20 completions. Seattle took advantage of their opportunities, completing 74.1% of their passes and converting 54.5% of their third down attempts.

Los Angeles managed two sacks in the game but lost the quarterback hit battle by a margin of -6. The Rams’ defense will be looking to improve in coverage and limit big plays in their next outing.

• Through their last three games, the Rams have a record of 2-1. In terms of betting, the team went 2-1 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Rams have gone 6-4 straight up. Against the spread, Los Angeles went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Rams to cover as home underdogs. The point spread lines have the Rams at +2.5, and with this being a week one post-season matchup, we have the Vikings coming out on top by a score of 24-22. As for our best bet on the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the under, with the line sitting at 47 points, and our projections have this game finishing with 46 combined points.

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Vikings vs. Rams: Wild-Card Showdown with Everything on the Line

The Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams are gearing up for a playoff battle, and this one’s got a twist: it’s happening on neutral turf. Thanks to wildfires in LA, the game has been moved to Arizona’s stadium, leveling the playing field and adding an extra layer of intrigue.

Vikings: Can They Bounce Back?

The Vikings are coming off a stellar 14-3 season, but they’ve got unfinished business in the playoffs. Their last postseason win was back in 2019, and they’re hungry to change that.

NFL Betting Picks: Today’s Best Bets for Big Wins 🏈

What’s Working:

• Sam Darnold: What a season for the new guy. In his first year with the Vikings, he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. He’s also the first QB in NFL history to win 14 regular-season games in his debut year with a team.
• Justin Jefferson: Let’s talk about this superstar. Second in the league with 1,533 receiving yards, plus 10 touchdowns. When the Vikings need a big play, he’s their guy.
• Aaron Jones: The running back had his best season yet, racking up 1,138 yards on the ground.

The Challenge:

The Vikings need to shake off the sting of a Week 8 loss to the Rams, where they struggled to find their rhythm in a 30-20 defeat. Darnold, who’s nursing a sore quad, will need to bring his A-game to outplay the Rams’ defense.

Rams: Peaking at the Perfect Time

The Rams have been through it this season. A rough 1-4 start had people doubting them, but they turned it around to finish 10-7 and take the NFC West crown. Now, they’re hoping that momentum carries them through the playoffs.

What’s Clicking:

• Matthew Stafford: The veteran QB is steady as ever, throwing for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns. His experience will be key in a high-stakes game like this.
• Puka Nacua: This rookie has been a revelation, leading the team with 990 receiving yards and showing he can step up when it matters.
• Kyren Williams: Talk about a breakout year—1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s been a game-changer.

The Challenge:

Injuries have been a storyline for the Rams all season. They’ve weathered the absence of Aaron Donald and key offensive players like Rob Havenstein, who is expected to return for this game. Consistency on offense will be crucial, especially against a hungry Vikings defense.

What to Watch For

1. QB Duel: Darnold’s breakout year vs. Stafford’s playoff experience. This battle under center could decide the game.
2. Star Power: Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones are Minnesota’s one-two punch, but Nacua and Williams can cause problems for the Vikings.
3. Defense Wins Games: The Rams’ young defensive line has stepped up in Donald’s absence. Can they keep Darnold under pressure?
4. Neutral Ground: Playing in Arizona adds a unique wrinkle. Neither team has home-field advantage, which could make this game even tighter.

Why It Matters

For the Vikings, this is about breaking their playoff drought and proving they can deliver in the postseason. For the Rams, it’s a chance to show their mid-season turnaround was no fluke. With star players on both sides and a trip to the divisional round on the line, this game has all the makings of a playoff classic. Don’t miss it!