The Vikings extended their current straight up win streak to two games with last weekend’s 17-9 win Chicago. The Rams return to action on just four days rest after extending their current win streak to three games with Tuesday’s 20-10 victory over the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

L.A. is a 3-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 49.0.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Backed by 77 per cent of sports bettors, the Rams have held steady since opening as 3-point road favourites. The total has dipped slightly since opening at 49.5, sliding to 49, with a narrow majority of 52 per cent of the betting action supporting the UNDER.

Sunday afternoon’s matchup at US Bank Stadium marks the first meeting between these NFC rivals since September 2018. The Rams powered to a narrow 38-31 win as 7-point home chalk in that contest. However, the Vikings have otherwise dominated in head-to-head action, claiming outright and against the spread win in each of their five previous meetings. The Vikings have also produced steady results when facing the Rams on home turf, going 6-1 straight up in seven home dates since 1987, and covering in three of their past four.

While the UNDER has paid out in three of the past four dates involving these teams, offensive explosions by Minnesota have not been uncommon. The Vikings have averaged over 30 points per game in their six against LA. Conversely, the Rams averaged just 12.6 points per game in their recent five-game losing streak against Minnesota.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have lifted themselves back into contention for the NFC West crown and the top seed in the conference with their current three-game win streak. And the team’s two NFL MVP candidates have played a huge role in that success. Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s two touchdown passes to receiver Cooper Kupp proved to be the difference in Tuesday’s victory. Stafford has now connected on 11 scoring tosses over his past four outings, with Kupp being on the receiving end of four TD passes over the past three weeks. Of course, the steady play of the Rams defence cannot be overlooked. LA has surrendered just 13.3 points per game during their current 3-0 run after allowing 31.7 points per game during a preceding three-game slide.

Minnesota Vikings

Injuries have emerged as a major concern for the Vikings ahead of yet another must-win contest. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked four times in last week’s win over the Bears, and was limited at Wednesday practice with a rib injury. Cousins has been far from dominant in his past two outings, and compiled just 87 passing yards in Chicago. He still managed to connect on two scoring passes and has tossed for multiple TDs in eight of his past nine outings. The good news for the Vikings is that receiver Adam Thielen is on the mend. Thielen has not seen action since Week 13 while recovering from an ankle injury, but was a limited participant at Wednesday practice, and has been vocal about his intent to play on Sunday.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Rams vs. Vikings?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rams Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 16
Rushing	Sony Michel 845
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4886
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 145
Sacks	Aaron Donald 12.5
Interceptions	Taylor Rapp 4

MIN

Touchdowns	Justin Jefferson 10
Rushing	Dalvin Cook 1159
Passing	Kirk Cousins 4221
Receiving	Justin Jefferson 108
Sacks	D.J. Wonnum 8
Interceptions	Xavier Woods 3

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 6
Rushing	Cam Akers 172
Passing	Matthew Stafford 1188
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 33
Sacks	Von Miller 4
Interceptions	Marquise Copeland 1

MIN

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Vikings Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 16
Rushing	Sony Michel 845
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4886
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 145
Sacks	Aaron Donald 12.5
Interceptions	Taylor Rapp 4

MIN

Touchdowns	Justin Jefferson 10
Rushing	Dalvin Cook 1159
Passing	Kirk Cousins 4221
Receiving	Justin Jefferson 108
Sacks	D.J. Wonnum 8
Interceptions	Xavier Woods 3

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 6
Rushing	Cam Akers 172
Passing	Matthew Stafford 1188
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 33
Sacks	Von Miller 4
Interceptions	Marquise Copeland 1

MIN

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

Weather

temp	23
condition	dome
wind	East 8mph

Injuries

L.A. Rams

Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)

day-to-day Knee - 13 / 02 / 22

Andrew Whitworth (OL)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 22

Van Jefferson (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 02 / 02 / 22

Grant Haley (DB)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 02 / 02 / 22

Cam Akers (RB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 01 / 22

Tyler Higbee (TE)

I-R Knee - 30 / 01 / 22

Greg Gaines (DL)

Prob Sun Toe - 27 / 01 / 22

John Wolford (QB)

Prob Sun Illness - 27 / 01 / 22

Van Jefferson (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 26 / 01 / 22

Joe Noteboom (OL)

I-R Pectoral - 25 / 01 / 22

Minnesota

Harrison Hand (CB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Mackensie Alexander (CB)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22

Kris Boyd (CB)

Out Sun Ribs - 05 / 01 / 22

Nick Vigil (LB)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 22

Wyatt Davis (G)

Out Sun Illness - 05 / 01 / 22

Kene Nwangwu (RB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 05 / 01 / 22

Luke Stocker (TE)

Ques Sun Elbow - 05 / 01 / 22

Tashawn Bower (DE)

Out indefinitely Illness - 05 / 01 / 22

Ezra Cleveland (G)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 01 / 22

Eric Kendricks (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 01 / 22

Injuries

L.A. Rams

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)	day-to-day	Knee - 13 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Beckham Jr. exited Sunday's game with a left knee injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Andrew Whitworth (OL)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Whitworth has a quad injury, but it is determined that he will partake in the 2022 Super Bowl versus the Bengals.
Van Jefferson (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 02 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jefferson is hindered by a knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up for the 2022 Super Bowl versus the Bengals.
Grant Haley (DB)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 02 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Haley has a quad injury, but it is unlikely to change his status for Super Bowl 56 versus the Bengals.
Cam Akers (RB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Akers is hampered by a shoulder injury, but it is likely that he will be available for Super Bowl 56 versus the Bengals.
Tyler Higbee (TE)	I-R	Knee - 30 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Higbee has been added to the injured reverse list due to an MCL sprain.
Greg Gaines (DL)	Prob Sun	Toe - 27 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Gaines is bothered by a toe injury, but it is not likely to affect his status for the NFC championship game versus the 49ers.
John Wolford (QB)	Prob Sun	Illness - 27 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wolford is ailing from an illness, but it is likely that he will take on the 49ers in the NFC championship game.
Van Jefferson (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 26 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Jefferson is managing a knee injury, but he is likely to play against the 49ers in the NFC championship game.
Joe Noteboom (OL)	I-R	Pectoral - 25 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Noteboom has been added to the injured reserve list due to a pectoral strain.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Harrison Hand (CB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Hand has been shifted to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Mackensie Alexander (CB)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Alexander is managing an ankle ailment, and he will not take on the Bears on Sunday.
Kris Boyd (CB)	Out Sun	Ribs - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Boyd has a rib injury, leaving his status for Sunday's showdown against the Bears as inactive.
Nick Vigil (LB)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Vigil is dealing with an unspecified issue, and it is unclear if he will play against the Bears on Sunday.
Wyatt Davis (G)	Out Sun	Illness - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Davis is ailing from an illness, and he will not line up against the Bears on Sunday.
Kene Nwangwu (RB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Nwangwu has a hamstring injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Bears on Sunday.
Luke Stocker (TE)	Ques Sun	Elbow - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Stocker is nursing an elbow issue, and it is unknown if he will partake in Sunday's contest versus the Bears.
Tashawn Bower (DE)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Bower has been shifted to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unknown when he will return.
Ezra Cleveland (G)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 01 / 22	0-2	2-0	+ -
Cleveland has been posted to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he can return.
Eric Kendricks (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 01 / 22	0-2	2-0	+ -
Kendricks has been shuttled to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unclear when he will return to action.