Vikings-Rams playoff game moved to Arizona amid L.A. wildfires

Vikings-Rams playoff game moved to Arizona amid L.A. wildfires

The NFL has moved Monday night’s wild-card game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The game was originally scheduled to be play at SoFi Stadium, the home of the No. 4 seed Rams, but due to the devastating wildfires that are ravaging the area, as well as the diminished air quality in the area, the NFL had to make the decision on Thursday night to find a Plan B for the game.

State Farm Stadium is the home stadium for the Arizona Cardinals, so the Rams do have some familiarity with playing there given that they are division rivals. 

It is the right call. 

While it might be frustrating for the Rams to lose their home-field advantage and turn the game into a neutral field situation, there are more important things for the city of Los Angeles to be focusing on and focusing its resources on. 

Right up until the official announcement from the NFL, the Rams were still preparing as if the game was going to be played in Los Angeles, with head coach Sean McVay saying they had the “full expectation” of still playing at SoFI Stadium. 

By making the decision on Thursday it gives both teams, as well as ESPN/ABC, plenty of time to make necessary preparations for the game. 

Rams season ticket holders will still have the first opportunity to buy tickets for Monday’s game, but it remains to be seen how many will make the trip, or be able to make the trip. 

There is a very real possibility that this could turn into more of a Vikings home game given how well their fans tend to travel and how large their fan base is.

The Rams, winners of the NFC West, have the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 10-7 record. The Vikings, the No. 5 seed and top wild-card seed in the NFC, have a 14-3 record which is one of the best in the NFL, but because they did not win their division they have to go on the road to open the playoffs.

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