Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Matchup Preview (12/26/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Matchup Preview (12/26/21)

The Minnesota Vikings are hosting the Los Angeles Rams this week and will try to get over the .500 hump and differentiate themselves from the six other teams with a 7-7 record. Meanwhile the Rams are now on a three-game winning streak at 10-4 that puts them at the top of the NFC West alongside the Cardinals. The Rams played on Tuesday of this week which gives them fewer rest days than they are used to plus they’ll be playing on a time change, so the Vikings have the upper hand in that regard. But that’s pretty much the extent of their upper hand. They’ve scraped wins together against some talented teams like the Packers and the Chargers, yet they gave the Lions their first win of the season. They have big threats on offense but give up the third-most yards in the league on defense which will be a problem against the Stafford-Kupp combo. Nonetheless, they are on a two-game winning streak which includes an impressive victory over the Steelers, so it’s not impossible.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Betting Odds

The Rams are the 3-point favorite over the Vikings this week. Los Angeles was 4-7 against the spread this year heading into their three-game winning streak, of which they covered all three times and are now 7-7 on covering this year. They’ve had success on the road this year as well which bodes well for them this week in Minnesota, meanwhile the Vikings have been successful at home, garnering a 4-2 record. They’re 8-6 against the spread this year and 2-0 at covering when they’re the underdog at home. 

Oddsmakers have this point total set at 49 points. The Vikings have hit over their set point total in four of their last five games, all by 8.5 points or more. The Rams have hit the over 60% of the time this year as the away favorite, so the overs club should be happy this week. The Vikings deserve credit for pulling off some big wins this season, but they’re defense can’t contain the run or the pass, and against the league’s leading receiver, I don’t foresee them pulling away with a win. 

My prediction: Rams win 30-21, Rams cover, over 49

TV Schedule

Date: 12/26/21
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN
TV Coverage: FOX

Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Live Stream

Where can you watch Rams vs. Vikings online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Rams vs. Vikings Free Online Now.

Los Angeles Rams Analysis

Last week’s performance against the Seahawks put Cooper Kupp’s name in the Rams’ record books – twice. He has 122 receptions this season, the most in a single season in Rams history and 14 receiving touchdowns, the second most in a season in franchise history. And they still have three games left in the regular season. Matthew Stafford also showed up on Tuesday, throwing for 244 yards completing 72.4% of his passes and finding Kupp in the endzone twice. Despite this impressive performance, his offensive line allowed four sacks on him. He has now been sacked eight times in their win streak, and no team has carried out more sacks this year than the Minnesota Vikings so the sack-streak on the Rams can very well continue. 

Tuesday’s game was another solid defensive performance for the Rams as well – Jalen Ramsey came up huge against DK Metcalf twice, preventing two redzone entries. He will be a good match for Justin Jefferson. He is just one piece of this solid defensive unit but was missing his sidekick and leading tackler Jordan Fuller on Tuesday because of Covid-19 protocols. Fuller should be healthy for a return this week, which will help to lock down a win for them.

This defense has good pass rushers, a solid defensive line, and holds teams to under 100 rushing yards per game. Against a weak Vikings offensive line, players like Aaron Donald will likely add more sacks to his resume this week. The Rams are fifth in the league in sacks and interceptions with 39 and 15, respectively.

Los Angeles Rams Depth Chart

QB: Matthew Stafford
RB1: Darrell Henderson Jr.
RB2: Sony Michel
WR3: Van Jefferson
WR2: Odell Beckham Jr.
WR1: Cooper Kupp
TE1: Tyler Higbee

Minnesota Vikings Analysis

The Vikings did beat the Bears on Monday, but it wasn’t pretty. Kirk Cousins threw for 87 passing yards and an interception with a 50% completion rate on the night. His offensive line didn’t do him any favors either, allowing 4 sacks on him. Cousins’ QBR for this game was 18.9, the second-lowest of the season for him. But in the places that Cousins lacks, the rest of his offense has made up for it throughout the season. Dalvin Cook has the third-most yards by a running back this season with 1,067 and had an unbelievable performance two weeks ago against the Steelers where he tallied 205 rushing yards. Justin Jefferson is by far their most targeted player, has nine touchdowns this year, and is tied for the second-most receiving yards in the NFL behind…Cooper Kupp. He’s been targeted 39 times in the last three games and with Adam Thielen out, Jefferson should be getting even more looks but will definitely have his work cut out for him against Jalen Ramsey. This offense has the eighth-most yards in the league this season thanks to Cook and Jefferson. 

Defensively this team needs a lot of help. They lead the league in sacks but allow the third-most yards against them and over 250 passing yards against them per game, which will be a nightmare against Kupp and Stafford’s connection. They also allow 128.5 rushing yards per game, so in the small likelihood that they can contain Kupp, they still have the run game to deal with. Their run defense and their pass coverage needs a lot of workshopping if they want to keep the Rams offense off the field.

Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart

QB: Kirk Cousins
RB1: Dalvin Cook
RB2: Alexander Mattison
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Adam Thielen
WR3: K.J. Osborn
TE1: Tyler Conklin
TE2: Luke Stocker

Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Daily Fantasy Picks

Given how hot the Rams are right now, you really can’t go wrong. Kupp will undoubtedly provide you points – he leads all wide receivers in fantasy points this year. Against a weak secondary, he is projected to have at least 14 points, though I think it will be more, considering he has exceeded fantasy expectations in their last three games. Outside of him, Matt Gay is also a rock solid kicking option and averages almost 9 points a game for this Rams offense. I’d consider him to be in the top three (or two) kickers in the league. 

If Justin Jefferson can find his way around Jalen Ramsey, one of the best corners in the league, then he should do very well in this game. Thielen is out, which gives more room for Jefferson to run and the Rams have an incredible run defense that can stop Cook and force them to throw the ball.