A short memory is needed in this game against the Rams that has been moved because of the Los Angeles wildfires to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. SoFi Stadium is not an intimidating home field compared to Ford Field in Detroit or Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, but this move should work out in the Vikings’ favor.

Sam Darnold is on track to reach free agency in March and understands what's at stake regarding his short- and long-term futures.

The Rams earned a home playoff game by winning the NFC West in a tiebreaker against Seattle. The Vikings, who ended the regular season with the second-best record in the NFC and third-best record in the NFL, will play on the road after losing a game last Sunday to Detroit that served as a de facto NFC North title game.

Sam Darnold put forth a career performance for the Minnesota Vikings this season, ranking among the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks in passing yardage, touchdown throws, passer rating and winning percentage.

Seven days separated two visuals that could not have been more in contrast if you hung a portrait of Quasimodo next to the Mona Lisa. There was Sam Darnold, after defeating the Packers, hoisted atop teammates' shoulders,