The Rams’ star receivers returned to the lineup on Thursday night, and L.A. earned a feel-good win.
— The Los Angeles Rams held on to defeat 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 entered the game ranked No. 1 in defensive DVOA.
Los Angeles got just a glimpse of its top two receivers on the field together in its season opener before Nacua injured a knee in the loss. Kupp sprained an ankle the week after, and the offense struggled to find consistency without the pair on the field.
The return of Kupp and Nacua opened up the field for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed passes to nine different players in the victory. Nacua led the way with nine targets, while Kupp had eight and running back Kyren Williams had seven.
The win boosted the Rams’ record to 3-4, with two of those three victories coming four days apart. And despite the Rams’ 1-4 start, Los Angeles enters the weekend tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals at 3-4. The Rams are just one game back from the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.
Los Angeles plays in Seattle in Week 9.
Most surprising performance: The Rams kept Nacua’s return quiet, activating him from injured reserve despite the fact he couldn’t practice because of 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 breakdown: Stafford entered the game with just three passing touchdowns this season.
He more than doubled that on Thursday night, throwing two in the first half and two in the second half to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.
