PUNT RETURN TD SPARKS CLINCHER
MINNEAPOLIS
Before Brandon Powell joined the Rams last month, his fifth team in four seasons, he read books on a beach near his Florida home while waiting for yet another shot.
Rams 30, Vikings 23
This was quite the chapter, helping clinch a spot for the Rams in the playoffs.
Powell returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lift the Rams at just the right time on the way to a 30-23 victory over the Vikings on Sunday that also secured a postseason berth for Arizona.
“I just did the easy part. I just caught the ball and ran the ball up the sideline,” said Powell, who was on the active roster for the Rams for only the fourth time.
Little has been easy lately for the Rams (11-4), who won their fourth straight game and passed the Cardinals (10-5) for first place in the NFC West.
Ravaged by COVID-19, their previous game was moved to Tuesday, giving them only four days of rest for this one. Matthew Stafford was out of rhythm during his first three-interception game since Sept. 10, 2018, when he was picked off four times for Detroit against the Jets.
The Rams still had more
than enough to win.
Sony Michel rushed for a season-high 131 yards and a score, Matt Gay made three field goals, and the defense did its part by keeping the Vikings out of the end zone on two first-half trips inside the 10-yard line.
With the punt return by Powell, an interception by backup linebacker Travin Howard and an emergency debut at left tackle for undrafted rookie Alaric Jackson, the Rams enjoyed plenty of down-the-roster contributions in addition to the usual excellence from stars like Aaron Donald,
Jalen Ramsey and Cooper Kupp.
“There’s adversity that’s going to come inevitably for each phase of this team. That’s life. That’s football,” Kupp said. “You’ve got to be able to take the ebbs and the flows and pick each other up.”
Anthony Barr picked off Stafford twice, both deep in Rams territory, and the Vikings turned those picks into 10 points. Stafford went 21 for 37 for 197 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr., but he was out of sync for most of the game with several other throws that could’ve been intercepted.
“I can definitely play way better,” Stafford said.
Kirk Cousins had 315 yards on 27-for-38 passing for the Vikings.