The Rams' offense leads to an impressive win over the Vikings

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 on “Thursday Night Football.”

The Rams got two key starters – wide receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) – back from injury and scored a season-high 30 points against a Vikings team that came into the game ranked No. 1 in defensive DVOA.

Los Angeles only got a glimpse of its two best receivers on the field in the season opener before Nacua injured his knee in the loss. Kupp sprained an ankle the following week and the offense struggled to find continuity without the two on the field.

The returns of Kupp and Nacua opened the field for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed passes to nine different players in the win. Nacua led the way with nine targets, while Kupp had eight and running back Kyren Williams seven.

The win improved the Rams' record to 3-4, with two of those three wins coming four days apart. And despite the Rams' 1-4 start, Los Angeles enters the weekend tied with the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at 3-4. The Rams are just one game behind the league-leading Seattle Seahawks.

Los Angeles plays at Seattle in Week 9.

Most surprising performance: The Rams kept Nacua's return a secret, activating him from injured reserve even though he was unable to practice due to the short week.

But Stafford went to Nacua early and often on Thursday night, and the second-year receiver led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets.

Nacua played 35 of 65 offensive snaps for Los Angeles.

QB collapse: Stafford came into the game with just three passing touchdowns this season.

He more than doubled that number Thursday night, throwing two to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson in the first half and two in the second half.

Stafford had one of his best games of the season, completing 24 of 33 passes for 270 yards and one interception.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Stop Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who was called “the best in the world” before this game, had eight catches for 115 yards on Thursday night.

The Rams' pass defense came into the game ranked 30th in DVOA and the group struggled to stop the Vikings' best player.

Next game: at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 3)

Who are the Minnesota Vikings? The team that dominated its first five games of the season with the largest point differential in the NFL? Or the one who has now lost two games in five days?

That's what Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff will think about when they return to Minnesota after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

It's one thing to have lost a two-point game last Sunday to the Detroit Lions, who are arguably the best team in football. But the Rams were 2-4 before Thursday night and have reportedly considered trading receiver Cooper Kupp, a franchise staple, as a possible offseason signing.

The answer is often somewhere in the middle. ESPN's Football Power Index predicted the Vikings will win 6.8 games this season, and it's very likely they will surpass that mark. And there will be a lot of discussion about the uncalled facemask penalty when the Rams sacked quarterback Sam Darnold because the safety was game-winning.

But after watching the Vikings' defense give up four touchdown passes to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and big yards in between, and knowing what a difficult task they have playing in the NFC North, it's clear that we still Don't know how good this team can be.

Describe the game in two words: Jefferson outbreak.

Jefferson entered the game with 531 receiving yards in six games, fifth-most in the NFL, but he had just one 100-yard performance before Thursday night.

In fact, he said last week: “I’m definitely tired of these 80, 90-yard games. I definitely need to get over that 100 yard hump. It's going to be one of those games we have. “We're going to show the world what we're really capable of and hopefully it's Thursday night.”

Jefferson surpassed the 100-yard mark with a juggling 27-yard reception in the third quarter and finished the game with 115 yards receiving at eight Catches.

Worrying trend: Left tackle Christian Darrisaw was sidelined after suffering a left knee injury late in the second quarter.

There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury, but he needed help from medical staff to leave the field and get to the locker room.

The Vikings have a competent veteran backup in David Quessenberry and have a few extra days to prepare for their Week 9 game against the Colts. But make no mistake, Darrisaw is one of the NFL's top left tackles, one who is worth every penny of the five-year, $140 million contract extension he signed last week, and it would be a huge one Loss if he were to miss a long period of time.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Vikings couldn't find a way to get to Stafford for most of the game.

They only pressured him on three of 34 dropbacks. And even then, he completed a pass against all three of those pressures, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kupp in the second quarter in which he eluded defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and linebacker Jonathan Greenard.

The pass rush has been a key to the Vikings' strong start this season, and before Thursday they had posted a pressure rate of at least 24.6% in every game.

Next game: vs. Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 3)