The Minnesota Vikings' playoff run ended abruptly with a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, marking a disappointing conclusion to their 14-win regular season. Quarterback Sam Darnold struggled significantly, throwing an interception and losing a fumble, while being sacked nine times, demonstrating an alarming tendency to hold onto the ball too long even with ample time to throw.

The Rams capitalized early on Vikings missteps, scoring a touchdown after a critical fourth-and-1 penalty. A controversial review of a potential touchdown by Minnesota that was overturned further compounded the Vikings' woes. Coach Kevin O'Connell faced scrutiny for his decision-making throughout the game, including a failed fourth-down attempt that led to another Rams touchdown.