Matthew Stafford, Rams Hyped by NFL Fans as Super Bowl Sleeper After Win vs. Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings were the team with 14 wins that battled for the NFC's No. 1 seed all season long, but you would never know from Monday's playoff game.

The Los Angeles Rams rolled to a 27-9 victory over Minnesota in the NFC Wild Card Round to set up a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. While the game was moved to State Farm Stadium in Arizona because of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the Rams looked right at home as they controlled the contest from the opening possession.

Matthew Stafford went 19-of-27 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, while the defense forced two turnovers and tallied nine sacks.

Minnesota never got anything going until it was too late as Sam Darnold went 25-of-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Los Angeles also held stars Justin Jefferson (five catches for 58 yards) and Aaron Jones (48 rushing yards) in check and out of the end zone in an impressive overall performance.

The Rams may be a wild-card team that now has to go on the road, but social media was discussing their Super Bowl prospects as the blowout unfolded:

It was clear from the start who was going to win, as Los Angeles wasted no time setting the tone while marching seven plays for 70 yards and a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Stafford found Kyren Williams for the score and continued to pick apart the Minnesota secondary as his team built a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter.

It was the defense's turn from there, as Cobie Durant picked off Darnold before Ahkello Witherspoon's sack on the ensuing Minnesota possession knocked the ball loose for Jared Verse to scoop up and return 57 yards for a touchdown.

Los Angeles sacked Darnold six times in the first half with one coming on a fourth-down attempt. It was in full control of the line of scrimmage against a Vikings team that looked nothing like the one that won 14 games in the regular season.

The fourth-down sack set up another touchdown pass from Darnold to Davis Allen as the Rams took a commanding 24-3 halftime lead.

The second half was largely a formality, although Darnold gave the Vikings a chance with a third-quarter touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson. Los Angeles' pressure also didn't get to the USC product during the third quarter like it did in the early going, and Minnesota started to build some momentum.

Still, that momentum was short-lived as the defensive pressure returned in the fourth and cut short multiple Vikings' drives. Stafford and Co. didn't have to do much as the Rams put the finishing touches on the win.

It might take an even better performance to advance against the Eagles, but the NFC West team looked like a contender Monday.