Rams–Vikings rivalry explained

The Rams–Vikings rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.^{[1] [2] [3]}

The rivalry was most heated in the 1970s when the Vikings and Rams faced off in many consequential playoff games.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} To-date, the Vikings are the Rams second most played playoff opponent with seven games and the Rams are tied with the Cowboys as the most played playoff opponent for the Vikings.^[9]

The Vikings lead the all-time series 27–19–1 and are 5–2 in the playoffs.

Notable moments and games

• The 1972 game was the highest-scoring game of the year for both of those teams, as Fran Tarkenton of the Vikings threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns. For his part, Roman Gabriel of the Rams would complete 25 passes in the game, which at that time was his second-highest career total ever in that category.
• Playing inside a mud-soaked Los Angeles Coliseum in the divisional round of the '77 playoffs, the Vikings jumped out to a 14–0 lead before holding on for a 14–7 victory. Despite the mud, both teams found considerable traction in their running games. Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon and Vikings running back Chuck Foreman each rushing for over 100 yards.^[10]
• In 1985, it was a defensive battle, as all of the first half scoring came on two Rams field goals to give them a 6–0 lead. Eric Dickerson then scored a touchdown in the third quarter to make it 13–0. The Vikings mounted a bit of a comeback, scoring on a Ted Brown touchdown run and a Jan Stenerud field goal, but it wasn't quite enough as the Rams held on to win 13–10.
• In 2015, the Vikings defeated the Rams 21–18 in overtime following an illegal hit to Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater by Rams' cornerback Lamarcus Joyner.^[11] Mike Zimmer famously declined receiving the ball in overtime after winning the toss due to favorable wind conditions for a possible game-winning kick. The Vikings ended up stopping the Rams, getting the ball, and kicking a game winning field goal.

Connections between the two teams

Shortly after the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, the Vikings hired their offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell, to serve as their new head coach following the firing of Zimmer at season's end.^[12] O'Connell brought several assistants from the Rams to work with him in Minnesota, with the most notable one being current Vikings offensive coordinator and former Rams tight end coach Wes Phillips.

Season-by-season results

|-| | | style="| Rams
31–17 | style="| Vikings
42–21| Tie
1–1| Vikings join NFL as an expansion team and are placed in the Western Conference.|-| | style="| | style="| Vikings
38–14 | Tie
24–24| Vikings
2–1–1| |-| | | style="| Rams
27–24| style="| Vikings
21–13| Vikings
3–2–1||-| | | style="| Rams
22–13| style="| Vikings
34–13| Vikings
4–3–1 | |-| | style="| | style="| Vikings
38–35| style="| Vikings
24–13| Vikings
6–3–1 | |-| | | style="| Rams
21–6| style="| Vikings
35–7| Vikings
7–4–1 | |-| | style=" | | style="| Rams
39–3 | | Vikings
7–5–1 | Vikings are moved to the Central Division. |-| | style="| | | style="| Rams
31–3| Vikings
7–6–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Vikings
20–13| | Vikings
8–6–1 | |-! 1969 Playoffs! style="| ! ! style="| Vikings
23–20! Vikings
9–6–1 | NFL Western Conference Championship Game|-|-| | style="| Vikings
13–3| Metropolitan Stadium| Vikings
10–6–1 | |-| | style="| Vikings
45–41| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| Vikings
11–6–1| |-| | style="| Vikings
10–9| Metropolitan Stadium| Vikings
12–6–1| Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII|-| | style="| Rams
20–17| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| Vikings
12–7–1| |-! 1974 Playoffs! style="| Vikings
14–10! Metropolitan Stadium! Vikings
13–7–1! NFC Championship Game. Vikings lose Super Bowl IX.|-| | Tie
10–10| Metropolitan Stadium| Vikings
13–7–2| |-! 1976 Playoffs! style="| Vikings
24–13! Metropolitan Stadium! Vikings
14–7–2! NFC Championship Game. Vikings lose Super Bowl XI.|-| | style="| Rams
35–3| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| Vikings
14–8–2| |-! 1977 Playoffs! style="| Vikings
14–7! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum! Vikings
15–8–2! NFC Divisional Round|-| | style="| Rams
34–17| Metropolitan Stadium| Vikings
15–9–2| Final meeting at Metropolitan Stadium.|-! 1978 Playoffs! style="| Rams
34–10! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum! Vikings
15–10–2! NFC Divisional Round|-| | style="| Rams
27–21(OT)| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| Vikings
15–11–2| Final meeting at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2018. Rams lose Super Bowl XIV.|-|-| | style="| Rams
13–10| Anaheim Stadium| Vikings
15–12–2| First meeting at Anaheim Stadium.|-| | style="| Vikings
21–16| Anaheim Stadium| Vikings
16–12–2|-! 1988 Playoffs! style="| Vikings
28–17! Metrodome! Vikings
17–12–2! NFC Wild Card Game. First meeting at the Metrodome.|-| | style="| Vikings
23–21| Metrodome| Vikings
18–12–2| |-|-| | style="| Vikings
20–14| Metrodome| Vikings
19–12–2| |-| | style="| Vikings
31–17| Anaheim Stadium| Vikings
20–12–2| Final meeting at Anaheim Stadium.|-| | style="| Vikings
38–31| Trans World Dome| Vikings
21–12–2 | First meeting at Trans World Dome and in St. Louis.|-! 1999 Playoffs! style="| Rams
49–37! Trans World Dome! Vikings
21–13–2! NFC Divisional Round. Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV. |-| | style="| Rams
40–29| Trans World Dome| Vikings
21–14–2 ||-| | style="| Rams
48–17| Edward Jones Dome| Vikings
21–15–2 ||-| | style="| Vikings
27–13| Metrodome| Vikings
22–15–2| |-| | style="| Rams
41–21| Metrodome| Vikings
22–16–2 | Final meeting at the Metrodome.|-| | style="| Vikings
38–10| Edward Jones Dome| Vikings
23–16–2||-| | style="| Vikings
36–22| Edward Jones Dome| Vikings
24–16–2 | |-| | style="| Vikings
34–6| Edward Jones Dome| Vikings
25–16–2| Final meeting at Edward Jones Dome. |-| | style="| Vikings
21–18(OT)| TCF Bank Stadium| Vikings
26–16–2 | First meeting at TCF Bank Stadium. Final meeting between the Vikings and St. Louis Rams as the Rams relocated to Los Angeles following the season.|-| | style="| Vikings
24–7| U.S. Bank Stadium| Vikings
27–16–2 | First meeting at US Bank Stadium, and the first meeting since 1992 between the Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.|-| | style="| Rams
38–31| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum| Vikings
27–17–2 | Rams use the L.A. Coliseum as a temporary home while SoFi Stadium is under construction. |-|-| | style="| Rams
30–23| U.S. Bank Stadium| Vikings
27–18–2| Rams win Super Bowl LVI. Following season's end, the Vikings hired Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell to serve as their next head coach.|-| | style="| Rams
30–20| SoFi Stadium| Vikings
27–19–2| First meeting in SoFi Stadium.|-|-| Regular season| style="|| Rams 13–10| Vikings 12–4–2| |-| Postseason| style="|| Rams 2–1| Vikings 4–0| NFL Western Championship: 1969
NFC Wild Card: 1988
NFC Divisional: 1977, 1978, 1999
NFC Championship: 1974, 1976|-| Regular and postseason| style="|| Rams 15–11| Vikings 16–4–2| Vikings have a 4–3 record in St. Louis.|-

Notes and References

1. Web site: Los Angeles Rams' top 5 rivals of all time, ranked. Dijo. Songco. May 19, 2020. Clutch Points.
2. Web site: Biggest Rivalries of 1970's. Bryan. DeArdo. September 21, 2021. CBSSports.
3. News: Rams, Vikings renew old rivalry Sunday . 16 May 2023 . . 4 October 1985 . 2 . Newspapers.com.
4. News: newspapers.com. 2023-05-16. Arizona Republic. Vikings, Rams resume rivalry in TV contest. October 24, 1977. 8.
5. News: newspapers.com. 2023-05-16. Indianapolis Star. Vikings-Rams Resume Rivalry. August 6, 1977. 25.
6. News: newspapers.com. 2023-05-16. Centre Daily Times. Rams vs. Vikings. October 11, 1978. 27.
7. News: newspapers.com. 2023-05-16. Sacramento Bee. Rams, Vikes Rekindle Old Rivalry . November 29, 1979. 12F.
8. News: newspapers.com. 2023-05-16. Daily Oklahoman. Rams Seek to Change Viking's Playoff Spell. December 25, 1977. C2.
9. Web site: Los Angeles Rams Top 5 Rivals of All Time ranked. 19 May 2020 .
10. Web site: Rams, Vikings rekindle major 1970s rivalry. Florio. Mike. November 15, 2015. NBCSports.
11. Web site: Lamacrus Joyner fined for hit on Bridgewater. .
12. Web site: Minnesota Vikings Face Familiar Foe As Stafford, 10-4 Rams Offer Major Challenge. .