The Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford await the loser of Sunday night’s Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings showdown at Ford Field for a wild-card game in the 2024-25 NFL playoffs next weekend.
The Rams, playing mostly backups and sitting Stafford on Sunday, lost 30-25 to the Seattle Seahawks at home, pushing the Rams to the 4-seed. They will host the 5-seed, which will be the loser of Lions-Vikings. Both teams are 14-2 while the Rams finished 10-7.
The Lions defeated a banged-up Rams squad in Week 1 in overtime 26-20 in Detroit and ended their 2023 season 24-23 in a classic wild-card matchup a year ago also in Detroit. The Vikings lost to the Rams in Week 8 this season on a Thursday night, 30-20, in Los Angeles. The Lions lost their last visit to Los Angeles, 28-19, in 2021, the first season under head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff.
The Rams playoff game will likely be the Monday Night Football game Jan. 13. Since the NFL went to super wild-card weekend in 2021 with the addition of a Monday night playoff game, the NFC 4-5 matchup has been the Monday night game each of the three seasons.
THE BRACKET:NFC playoff schedule, seeds
The Buccaneers jumped up to the 3-seed and will host the 6-seed Washington Commanders next week.
The 2-seed Philadelphia Eagles will play the 7-seed Green Bay Packers next week.
The No. 1 seed, either the Lions or Vikings, will host the lowest-seeded remaining NFC team in the Divisional round Jan. 18-19.
The Minnesota Vikings are standing on the brink of an emotional opportunity if they secure a victory over the Detroit Lions and face the Los Angeles Rams with Matthew Stafford in the playoffs. For many fans, this won’t just be a playoff elimination game—it’s a chance to “redeem” themselves against a familiar name in NFC North history.
Matthew Stafford, the former cornerstone of the Detroit Lions, has caused the Vikings plenty of trouble in the past. During his 12 years with the Lions, Stafford showcased his versatile playmaking abilities and pinpoint throws, often leaving the Vikings’ defense scrambling. Now donning the Rams’ jersey, Stafford’s shadow still lingers. This game would be an opportunity for the Vikings to prove that they have moved beyond the struggles of their past matchups.
However, Stafford and the Rams are not to be underestimated. They are former Super Bowl champions, and Stafford himself has shown that he thrives under pressure, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. This presents a significant challenge for the Vikings’ defense but also a golden opportunity to demonstrate their grit and resilience.
More importantly, a victory against Stafford and the Rams would deliver a special sense of satisfaction to the Vikings and their fans. It would not only pave the way for a deeper playoff run but also serve as a bold statement that the times have changed. The Vikings are ready to rise above their past and chart a brighter future.
Can they make it happen? Let’s wait and see, as this battle promises to be one of the most unforgettable stories of the season.