Rams–Vikings rivalry

Rams–Vikings rivalry

Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings
First meeting	November 5, 1961 Rams 31, Vikings 17
Latest meeting	October 24, 2024 Rams 30, Vikings 20
Statistics
Meetings total	48
All-time series	Vikings, 27–19–2
Postseason results	Vikings, 5–2
Largest victory	Rams, 39–3 (1967)
Longest win streak	Vikings, 6 (1987–1998)
Current win streak	Rams, 3
Post–season history
1969 NFL Western Championship: Vikings won: 23–20 1974 NFC Championship: Vikings won: 14–10 1976 NFC Championship: Vikings won: 24–13 1977 NFC Divisional: Vikings won: 14–7 1978 NFC Divisional: Rams won: 34–10 1988 NFC Wild Card: Vikings won: 28–17 1999 NFC Divisional: Rams won: 49–37

The Rams–Vikings rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

The rivalry was most heated in the 1970s when the Vikings and Rams faced off in many consequential playoff games. 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.

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.
• 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. 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. 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

Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Vikings, 9–6–1) Season Season series at Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings Overall series Notes 1961 Tie 1–1 Rams 31–17 Vikings 42–21 Tie 1–1 Vikings join NFL as an expansion team and are placed in the Western Conference. 1962 Vikings 1–0–1 Vikings 38–14 Tie 24–24 Vikings 2–1–1 1963 Tie 1–1 Rams 27–24 Vikings 21–13 Vikings 3–2–1 1964 Tie 1–1 Rams 22–13 Vikings 34–13 Vikings 4–3–1 1965 Vikings 2–0 Vikings 38–35 Vikings 24–13 Vikings 6–3–1 1966 Tie 1–1 Rams 21–6 Vikings 35–7 Vikings 7–4–1 1967 Rams 1–0 Rams 39–3 Vikings 7–5–1 Vikings are moved to the Central Division. 1968 Rams 1–0 Rams 31–3 Vikings 7–6–1 1969 Vikings 1–0 Vikings 20–13 Vikings 8–6–1 1969 Playoffs Vikings 1–0 Vikings 23–20 Vikings 9–6–1 NFL Western Conference Championship Game
1970s (Vikings, 6–5–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1970 Vikings 13–3 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 10–6–1 1972 Vikings 45–41 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Vikings 11–6–1 1973 Vikings 10–9 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 12–6–1 Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII 1974 Rams 20–17 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Vikings 12–7–1 1974 Playoffs Vikings 14–10 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 13–7–1 NFC Championship Game. Vikings lose Super Bowl IX. 1976 Tie 10–10 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 13–7–2 1976 Playoffs Vikings 24–13 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 14–7–2 NFC Championship Game. Vikings lose Super Bowl XI. 1977 Rams 35–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Vikings 14–8–2 1977 Playoffs Vikings 14–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Vikings 15–8–2 NFC Divisional Round 1978 Rams 34–17 Metropolitan Stadium Vikings 15–9–2 Final meeting at Metropolitan Stadium. 1978 Playoffs Rams 34–10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Vikings 15–10–2 NFC Divisional Round 1979 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.
1980s (Vikings, 3–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1985 Rams 13–10 Anaheim Stadium Vikings 15–12–2 First meeting at Anaheim Stadium. 1987 Vikings 21–16 Anaheim Stadium Vikings 16–12–2 1988 Playoffs Vikings 28–17 Metrodome Vikings 17–12–2 NFC Wild Card Game. First meeting at the Metrodome. 1989 Vikings 23–21 Metrodome Vikings 18–12–2
1990s (Vikings, 3–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1991 Vikings 20–14 Metrodome Vikings 19–12–2 1992 Vikings 31–17 Anaheim Stadium Vikings 20–12–2 Final meeting at Anaheim Stadium. 1998 Vikings 38–31 Trans World Dome Vikings 21–12–2 First meeting at Trans World Dome and in St. Louis. 1999 Playoffs Rams 49–37 Trans World Dome Vikings 21–13–2 NFC Divisional Round. Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV.
2000s (Rams, 3–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2000 Rams 40–29 Trans World Dome Vikings 21–14–2 2003 Rams 48–17 Edward Jones Dome Vikings 21–15–2 2005 Vikings 27–13 Metrodome Vikings 22–15–2 2006 Rams 41–21 Metrodome Vikings 22–16–2 Final meeting at the Metrodome. 2009 Vikings 38–10 Edward Jones Dome Vikings 23–16–2
2010s (Vikings, 4–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2012 Vikings 36–22 Edward Jones Dome Vikings 24–16–2 2014 Vikings 34–6 Edward Jones Dome Vikings 25–16–2 Final meeting at Edward Jones Dome. 2015 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. 2017 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. 2018 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.
2020s (Rams, 2–0) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2021 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. 2024 Rams 30–20 SoFi Stadium Vikings 27–19–2 First meeting in SoFi Stadium.
Summary of results Season Season series at Los Angeles/STL Rams at Minnesota Vikings Notes Regular season Vikings 22–17–2 Rams 13–10 Vikings 12–4–2 Postseason Vikings 5–2 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 Vikings 27–19–2 Rams 15–11 Vikings 16–4–2 Vikings have a 4–3 record in St. Louis.