INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Cooper Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Puka Nacua passed for 106 yards on returns after a lengthy injury layoff and Matthew Stafford passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns The Los Angeles Rams’ 30:20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.

Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD pass for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass He gave Los Angeles the lead late in the third quarter, catching a 10-yard TD toss with 6:17 left to take a 28-20 lead.

Byron Young then sacked Sam Darnold for a safety with 1:36 left, grabbing Darnold’s facemask in the process. The officials didn’t throw a flag, sealing the Rams’ third straight win over Minnesota.

Darnold passed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who had an ineffective defensive performance following their first loss of the season. Minnesota also lost starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a knee injury late in the first half.

Justin Jefferson had eight balls for 115 yards, while Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota suffered two field goals in the final three quarters.

Stafford threw at least four touchdown passes for the 16th time in his career, including four with the Rams. The veteran had only thrown a total of three TD passes in the Rams’ first six games.

McVay also won his first head-to-head matchup with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was his offensive coordinator during the Rams’ Super Bowl championship season three years ago.

Both teams scored touchdowns on their first two drives in front of a sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. Darnold went 8 for 8 on those drives, while Stafford clearly enjoyed having his two favorite targets back in uniform.

Williams caught a short pass on the Rams’ first drive and scored a touchdown in his 10th straight game. The Vikings hadn’t allowed a TD in the first quarter all season, and the Rams hadn’t scored on their first drive all season.

Darnold hit Jefferson five times on the first two drives, but finished them off with throws to Oliver and to Sherfield, who scored a touchdown for his fifth NFL team.

Byron Murphy intercepted a pass from Stafford in the third, and Minnesota took a 17-14 lead after Jefferson extended the drive a shaky, one-handed reception.

Los Angeles responded with another 70-yard TD drive, capped by Robinson’s catch.

Injuries

Vikings: TE TJ Hockenson (knee) and G Dalton Risner (back) were out. … Darrisaw was injured as Minnesota tried to run out the clock to end the first half.

Rams: Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was inactive with a shoulder injury. … S Kam Curl injured his knee in the first quarter but returned in the second.

Next

Vikings: Host Indianapolis in a Sunday night game on November 3rd.

Rams: At Seattle on November 3rd.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL