Minnesota Vikings vs LA Rams prediction and picks for Wild Card clash feat. Puka Nacua and Justin Jefferson

The Minnesota Vikings and LA Rams will conclude the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL playoffs with a Monday Night Football matchup. They faced off earlier this season with the Rams coming out victorious, so the Vikings will be looking for redemption. Here's how it could all play out this week.

Minnesota Vikings vs LA Rams prediction

Puka Nacua (image credit: Getty)

The winner of the final wild card round game this year between the Minnesota Vikings and LA Rams will travel to take on the Philadelphia Eagles next week. The Rams won the NFC West so they will host the Vikings, who finished an impressive 14-3 but still lost out on the NFC North division title to the Detroit Lions, making them a wild card team.

In their first matchup this year, the Rams came away with a 30-20 victory at home and gave the Vikings one of just their three losses. They will be the hosts again for this matchup, but it will not be played in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles due to a safety risk as a result of the wildfires. The game will instead be played at the Arizona Cardinals' stadium, but the Rams will remain the "home" team.

This is expected to be a close contest and a potentially high-scoring game, judging by their previous matchup this year. Despite the Vikings having a better record, the Rams' victory in that contest could give them an edge.

They also have a Super Bowl champion at quarterback in Matthew Stafford, while Sam Darnold is making his first career playoff start, which further suggests that the Rams should be able to come out on top. Take LA to overcome Minnesota in what could be a tightly contested game.

Minnesota Vikings vs LA Rams picks

Justin Jefferson (image credit: Getty)

One of the most intriguing things to watch in this matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and LA Rams is a battle of the two of the best overall wide receivers in the NFL. Justin Jefferson finished the 2024 NFL season with the second-most receiving yards of any player, while Puka Nacua has recorded at least seven receptions in seven of his past eight games.

Avoid taking any Cooper Kupp prop bets after a disappointing finish to the season, he feels too much of a risk to back or bet against here. Nacua is the main weapon in the Rams' passing game, so expect him to go above 7.5 receptions.

The last time these two teams faced off, Jefferson totaled eight receptions for 115 yards and Nacua turned in seven receptions for 106 yards. Both feel like good picks to break 100 yards here. They will both be looking to fuel their teams to victory, but the Rams could be in line to win with a predicted 27-24 final score.