# Rams–Vikings rivalry

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 eight games and the Rams are the most played playoff opponent for the Vikings.
The Vikings lead the all-time series 27–20–1 and are 5–3 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 Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach following the firing of Zimmer at the end of the season. 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)
SeasonSeason seriesat Los Angeles Ramsat Minnesota VikingsOverall seriesNotes
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
Game in Los Angeles is the Vikings' first road win in franchise history. Vikings record their first tie result.
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)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
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, 3–0)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2021
Rams 30–23
U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings 27–18–2
Rams win Super Bowl LVI. Following the 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 at SoFi Stadium
2024 Playoffs
Rams 27–9
State Farm Stadium
Vikings 27–20–2
NFC Wild Card Round. Due to wildfires in southern California, the game was moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with the Rams serving as the home team. :
Summary of results
SeasonSeason seriesat Los Angeles/STL Ramsat Minnesota VikingsNotes
Regular season
Vikings 22–17–2
Rams 13–10
Vikings 12–4–2
Postseason
Vikings 5–3
Rams 3–1
Vikings 4–0
NFL Western Championship: 1969 NFC Wild Card: 1988, 2024 NFC Divisional: 1977, 1978, 1999 NFC Championship: 1974, 1976
Regular and postseason
Vikings 27–20–2
Rams 16–11
Vikings 16–4–2
Vikings finished with a 4–3 record in St. Louis. Rams 1–0 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, officially a Rams home game. :