LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams rested nearly all of their offensive starters in their regular-season finale because coach Sean McVay wanted everybody fresh and healthy for the playoffs.
McVay's offense has looked as if it needed a recharge for several weeks now, and the Rams (10-7) are hoping this rested group will return with the production necessary to hang with the winningest wild-card playoff team in NFL history.
Los Angeles will host the Minnesota Vikings (14-3) on Monday night in the Rams' first playoff game at SoFi Stadium since they won the Super Bowl nearly three years ago. To pull off the home upset, the Rams will probably need to score a bunch of points, which has been a problem for their offense repeatedly in an otherwise outstanding second half of the season.
The Rams have won nine of 12 since their bye week, yet they are the lowest-scoring team to qualify for the playoffs after managing just 21.6 points per game this season. McVay's offense faded badly down the stretch, scoring only three combined touchdowns and 44 points in its last three games in December before Jimmy Garoppolo led the backups to two more touchdowns and 25 points in last Sunday's meaningless finale.
Yet the Rams won all three of their offense's low-scoring games because the defense stepped up to hold three straight Rams opponents under 10 points for the first time in nearly a half-century.
The Rams are home underdogs against the first 14-win wild-card playoff team in NFL history, but they're also one of only two opponents to beat Minnesota this season.
Los Angeles won 30-20 at SoFi in a Thursday night visit from the Vikings in late October, getting four TD passes from Matthew Stafford in a game featuring the simultaneous return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua from lengthy injury absences. The Rams’ offense surged from there, but slumped around Thanksgiving and still hasn't re-emerged since dropping 44 points on powerhouse Buffalo in the Rams' best game of the season.
“The last time we played these guys, we started fast and we executed well,” McVay said Monday. “It really comes down to putting the guys in the right spots and all 11 doing what they’re supposed to do. ... I’ve liked the way that we finished games, but we have to be able to play a full four quarters if we expect to advance in this tournament, and we know that. There’ll be that sense of urgency, and we’re working to play as consistent as possible.”
With offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur calling the plays against Seattle, the Rams' complementary skill-position players stepped up nicely. Demarcus Robinson and rookie Jordan Whittington teamed up with Garoppolo for a few long completions, while tight end Tyler Higbee had five receptions and caught another TD pass. Los Angeles needs more contributions from more depth players, particularly if Kupp continues to struggle for a connection with Stafford.
When asked why the Rams are struggling to score, McVay has vaguely cited execution and play-calling. LA's execution could improve after rest, while McVay's head-to-head clash with Vikings defensive guru Brian Flores should be one of the best coaching matchups of the wild-card round. McVay will have a chance to show he can improve on his self-described failures in play-calling down the stretch.
Rookie kicker Joshua Karty concluded an up-and-down regular season by making four field goals against Seattle, including his two longest kicks of the season from 57 and 58 yards. After a midseason funk in which McVay appeared to lose confidence in him, Karty is headed into his playoff debut on a streak of 13 straight successful field-goal attempts since Thanksgiving — although he missed a couple of extra-point attempts in that stretch.
The Rams’ depth at running back took a hit when rookie Blake Corum broke his forearm against Seattle. But Kyren Williams is a workhorse, and veteran Ronnie Rivers has shown he’s capable of filling in. Rivers had a career-high 82 yards from scrimmage against the Seahawks.
RT Rob Havenstein is expected to play after missing the final two games with a shoulder injury incurred in practice.
22.7 — The defense's points allowed per game. Only Washington (23.0) allowed more among playoff teams, while the Rams' 353.1 yards allowed per game were the most by a playoff team. Despite those grim numbers, the unit has been mostly solid for three months — unless facing MVP candidates Saquon Barkley or Josh Allen, that is.
McVay's Rams are 7-4 overall in the postseason, but they lost an opening-round game at Detroit last season. The Rams haven't faced Minnesota in the playoffs since the 1999-2000 season, when the "Greatest Show on Turf" outlasted Jeff George's Vikings 49-37 in Kurt Warner's playoff debut. St. Louis won the Super Bowl two weeks later.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay walks along the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams place kicker Joshua Karty (16) reacts after making a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
BOSTON (AP) — Adam Henrique scored two goals and Connor McDavid scored on a power play midway through the second period as the Edmonton Oilers won their fourth straight game, 4-0 over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
Stuart Skinner, who left the game late in the first period after a collision with the Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov before returning at the start of the second, stopped 26 shots as the Oilers won for the 12th time in their last 15 games.
Viktor Arvidsson added an empty-netter for Edmonton, while center Leon Draisaitl’s point streak was halted at 14 games.
It was the Bruins’ fifth straight loss, their worst stretch since interim coach Joe Sacco took over for the fired Jim Montgomery on Nov. 19.
LIGHTNING 3, HURRICANES 2
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point scored with 52 seconds to play and Tampa Bay snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Carolina.
Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul also scored for Tampa Bay while Darren Raddysh finished with two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots in the victory.
Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina. Pytor Kochetkov finished with 31 saves.
Nikita Kucherov found Point cutting to the slot where he received the pass and spun around to his forehand to snap a shot past Kochetkov on the winning goal.
RED WINGS 3, SENATORS 2, OT
DETROIT (AP) — Patrick Kane scored on a power play with 2:39 remaining in overtime and Detroit extended their winning streak to five games with a win over Ottawa.
Dylan Larkin scored on a power play in the first period and Joe Veleno also scored in regulation for Detroit. Larkin extended his goal streak to four games and his point streak to six games.
Alex Lyon started in goal for Detroit, but was removed after the first period due to an upper-body injury. Cam Talbot took over and the duo combined for 31 saves.
Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot scored for Ottawa, which has lost five of its last six games. Anton Forsberg made 30 saves.
STARS 5, RANGERS 4, OT
NEW YORK (AP) — Jamie Benn scored on a power play 2:17 into overtime and Dallas allied from an early three-goal deficit to defeat struggling New York.
Jake Oettinger made 21 saves and Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley had a goal and two assists. Harley’s snap shot tied it 4-all at 17:21 of the third period following a terrible turnover by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller deep in his own end.
Benn’s 11th goal came with Artemi Panarin in the penalty box for hooking and gave the Stars their only lead. Dallas’ captain tipped in a centering pass from Jason Robertson. Harley also assisted on the play.
Dallas denied New York goalie Jonathan Quick his 400th career win.
BLUE JACKETS 4, PENGUINS 3, SO
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson scored in the shootout and Columbus rallied to beat Pittsburgh.
Elvis Merzlikins, who made 20 saves, stopped Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby in the shootout, as Columbus came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period.
Adam Fantilli scored a third-period power-play goal and Dmitri Voronkov scored twice, giving him nine goals in seven games. Columbus has goals with the man advantage in 12 of its last 15 games. Sean Monahan left with an upper-body injury.
Rickard Rakell scored twice and Michael Bunting set a career high with his eighth power-play goal. Crosby had two assists and became the NHL’s all-time leader in faceoff wins since the league started tracking the stat in 1997.
MAPLE LEAFS 3, FLYERS 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Auston Matthews and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist to lead Toronto to their fifth straight win, over Philadelphia.
Matthew Knies tallied the go-ahead goal with 6:39 remaining to help the Maple Leafs sweep a home-and-home set with Philadelphia. Toronto defeated the Flyers 3-2 in overtime on home ice on Sunday.
Leafs goalie Joseph Woll made 30 saves.
Travis Konecny scored both Philadelphia goals.
WILD 6, BLUES 4
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy’s tiebreaking goal early in the third period for Minnesota completed their comeback from a two-score deficit to beat St. Louis Blues for their fourth straight victory.
Boldy snapped in a shot off a pass from Mats Zuccarello on a 2-on-1 rush after Blues defenseman Jake Broberg’s stick broke in the neutral zone.
Joel Eriksson Ek scored for Minnesota midway through the second period, and Jake Middleton tied the game 1:16 into the third. Marcus Johansson tacked on an empty-netter.
Jordan Kyrou, Jake Neighbours and Robert Thomas scored early in the second period for a 4-2 lead for St. Louis that prompted the Wild to pull goalie Filip Gustavsson, who’d allowed a total of three goals over two earlier wins against the Blues this season.
JETS 5, PREDATORS 2
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Morgan Barron and Josh Morrissey scored 16 seconds apart to help Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck record his 300th NHL career win over Nashville.
Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi and Nino Niederreiter also scored for Winnipeg, which halted a three-game losing skid. Mark Scheifele added a pair of assists.
Hellebuyck stopped 26 shots.
Filip Forsberg ended an 18-game scoring drought with his 10th of the season for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 26 saves for Nashville.
Winnipeg led 3-0 after the first period and 3-1 heading into the third.
FLAMES 3, DUCKS 2, OT
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jonathan Huberdeau scored a power-play goal at 2:05 of overtime in Calgary's victory over Anaheim.
MacKenzie Weegar had a goal and an assist for the Flames, who stopped a two-game skid. Nazem Kadri scored and Dustin Wolf stopped 25 shots.
Mason McTavish tied it with 12:24 left in regulation for the Ducks, who have earned a point in five of their last six games. Alex Killorn also scored, and John Gibson made 30 saves.
Calgary’s Connor Zary apparently injured his left knee during the second period in an open-ice collision with Anaheim defenseman Drew Helleson, who received a game misconduct.
Killorn scored his eighth goal in the final second of 4-on-4 play after Helleson’s ejection, but Kadri scored his 15th moments later.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, SHARKS 2
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and an assist as Vegas beat San Jose.
Zach Whitecloud, Victor Olofsson and Tomas Hertl also scored to help Vegas extend its winning streak to three games. Shea Theodore had two assists.
William Eklund had a goal and an assist for San Jose. Timothy Liljegren also scored.
Olofsson gave the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead on a power play at 1:10 of the third period. His ninth goal came on a slap shot from the circle off a backhand pass from Jack Eichel.
Liljegren’s power-play goal trimmed it to 3-2 at 10:41, but Hertl sealed it with an empty-netter.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, right, makes a save as Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) chases the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
