Vikings at Rams final score: Minnesota outclasses St. Louis 34-6, in dominating effort
The Minnesota Vikings were looking to start the 2014 season out on a considerably different note from how the ended their 2013 campaign. Coming in as underdogs to the Edward Jones Dome, the Vikings looked like they were in prime position to pull the upset. In what was expected to be a strong defense slowing down a powerful offense, turned into a laugher.
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The scoring was started off in the first quarter by Vikings kicker Blair Walsh. As a Vikings drive stalled out, Walsh banged home a 52 yard field goal that was right down the middle of the goalposts. Minnesota found themselves up 3-0 and provided the lone points of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Minnesota extended their lead with another Walsh field goal, this one from 46 yards out. With Greg Williams defense reeling, the Rams only found themselves down by six points. Daren Bates and Janoris Jenkins were leading a considerable amount of jawing from the Rams defense, however, neither of them were able to back it up.
For their first touchdown of the game, the Vikings Matt Cassel hooked up with Greg Jennings in the end zone for an eight yard reception. Jennings touchdown catch now had Minnesota up 13-0 with only 21 seconds left in the half.
Coming out in the second half, the Rams were forced to turn to 3rd string quarterback, Austin Davis. Starter Shaun Hill was forced to leave the game with a calf injury, and it was now on Davis to bring St. Louis back in the game.
St. Louis would get on the board early in the third quarter behind a Greg Zuerlein field goal from 56 yards out. Zuerlein missed an attempt earlier in the game, and redeemed himself with the long boot.
Despite the Rams pulling to within 10, the Vikings were ready to put the game away. Minnesota scored 21 unanswered points through the rest of the third, and into the fourth quarter. A 67 yard run by Cordarrelle Patterson, seven yard reception by Kyle Rudolph, and an 81 yard interception return by Harrison Smith, spelled disaster for the Rams.
St. Louis was able to add another field goal late in the fourth quarter, but it wouldn’t matter as the final score would sit at 34-6 in favor of the Vikings.
For Minnesota, it was the defense in purple the was the better unit today. Behind interceptions from Smith and Josh Robinson, as well as five total sacks, the Rams couldn’t get anything going.
Cordarrelle Patterson has officially arrived on offense and looks poised to be one of the most dangerous players in the league. While Adrian Peterson failed to get into the end zone, he did rush for 75 yards of his own on the day.
Minnesota is set to take on the New England Patriots at home next weekend, while the St. Louis Rams will travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers.