The Minnesota Vikings had the opportunity to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs in the final game on the NFL’s 2024 regular-season schedule. But the Detroit Lions defeated the Vikings 31-9 on Jan. 5.

That sent Minnesota on the road to open the playoffs despite a 14-3 regular-season record. That mark didn’t help protect Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who was sacked nine times as the Los Angeles Rams ended Minnesota’s season with a 27-9 victory on Monday night to conclude the NFL’s Wild-Card Weekend.

Darnold completed 25-of-40 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception and lost a fumble that Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse returned 57 yards for a touchdown as Los Angeles took a 17-3 lead with 4:35 left in the first half.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 19-of-27 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Four players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Minnesota-Los Angeles game:

• Vikings defensive back Bobby McCain (Oxford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
• Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) dressed for the game but did not play.
• Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover, Alabama) made his only kick – a 34-yard field goal with 14:17 left in the first half.
• Cam Robinson (Alabama) started at left offensive tackle for the Vikings.
• Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner (Alabama) made one tackle.
• Darious Williams (UAB) started at cornerback for the Rams. Williams made four tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up two passes.

Before the game on Monday, Minnesota released defensive tackle Travis Bell, a prep standout at Jeff Davis in Montgomery, from its practice squad to add offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson.

Los Angeles was the home team as the NFC West champion with a 10-7 regular-season mark. But instead of playing at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the No. 4-vs.-No. 5 NFC game was contested at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The NFL moved the game to the Arizona Cardinals’ home field because of wildfires in southern California.

The Rams play the Philadelphia Eagles at 2 p.m. CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in the Divisional Round. NBC will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.