What to know when the Vikings travel to play the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night:

Vikings at Rams
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: State Farm Stadium
TV: ABC/ESPN
Radio: KFAN
Line: Vikings -2.5
Over/Under: 47.5

Keys for the Vikings

— This is going to hinge on quarterback Sam Darnold and his ability to bounce back from his worst game of the season in last week’s 31-9 loss in Detroit. If he can rediscover his confidence and get into a rhythm early, the Vikings are going to be in a good spot. If he looks rattled again, the Vikings are going to face an uphill climb.

— If the Vikings want to win the game, they have to stop the Rams from gashing them with intermediate throws over the middle. That was the difference in the matchup earlier this season as quarterback Matthew Stafford found tons of success whenever he dropped back to pass. Look for the Vikings to bring pressure as defensive coordinator Brian Flores tries to prevent history from repeating.

Keys for the Rams

— The fact that Stafford has been there and done that is an advantage for the Rams. The bright lights won’t get to him. That said, Stafford needs help from his pass catchers, namely star Puka Nacua. There are so many different ways that Nacua can impact the game, which could make life miserable for the Vikings if he’s able to get rolling.

— The emergence of rookie edge rusher Jared Verse has been a godsend for the Rams. He’s the ultimate chess piece that could wreck the game for the Vikings if they’re not careful. No doubt the ultimate goal for the Rams is to give Darnold happy feet in the pocket.

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