The Viking Age
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Week 4 Ups and Downs: Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Rams

By Adam Carlson

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams embrace after their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams embrace after their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by defensive back Holton Hill #24 and defensive back Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by defensive back Holton Hill #24 and defensive back Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Overall impression vs Rams

When looking at the schedule before the NFL season started, many Vikings fans would have circled the game against the Rams as being one of the toughest Minnesota would have during the 2018 NFL season.

Even after a disappointing finish against the Packers in Green Bay and being blown out by the Buffalo Bills at U.S. Bank Stadium, there was still some hope that Minnesota could bounce back in Week 4 against the Rams.

The good news is that the Vikings offense is back. Against a tough Rams defense, Minnesota’s offense looked like they were on point and could hang with anyone in the NFL. Cousins was making great throws and every player on offense was getting involved, including the recently acquired receiver Aldrick Robinson.

The bad news is that the defense couldn’t stop the Rams. Los Angeles only punted twice on the day, with one driving ending on a fake punt. Otherwise, it was all touchdowns or field goal attempts after moving the ball at will using a combination of Todd Gurley and the Rams receivers.

The interesting news is that Minnesota is the first team the Rams have played that didn’t don’t get beaten by double digits. Also, in their first three games, Los Angeles only gave up a total of 36 points, an average of only 12 points allowed per contest…with the Vikings putting 31 on them.

This performance by Minnesota should be enough to get a good feeling about the team moving forward. They put the juggernauts of the NFC West to the test and pushed them to their limits, making them need a flawless game to get a victory.

Of course, the big question is whether or not cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes will be good to go for next week. Hope is that they will, especially since the team has 10 days to prepare and rest up.

Next. Vikings player rankings for Week 4. dark

The Minnesota Vikings will be tested again in Week 5 when they hit the road to take on the Philadelphia Eagles, the Super Bowl champion from last season. However, after that performance against the Rams, fans should be feeling much better about this teams chances this year than after the humiliating loss to the Bills in Week 3.

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