The Los Angeles Rams win in exile against the Minnesota Vikings and advance to the divisional playoffs. A demonstration of power – and a clear warning to the seven other teams. An opinion piece.

For a brief moment, the Los Angeles Rams had to tremble.

With the score 10:3 against the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, quarterback Matthew Stafford lost the ball, and the Vikings carried it into the end zone – the equalizer?

No. After video review, the referees ruled: no fumble, but an incomplete pass. Still in possession of the ball – and still leading, the Rams.

A lead that Head Coach Sean McVay’s team would not relinquish. The final score of 27:9 (and 24:3 at half-time) was clear.

Not necessarily foreseeable, but absolutely deserved.

Rams have what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl

Los Angeles showed Minnesota how playoff football is done.

A strong defense (which brought Sam Darnold to the ground nine times and carried a fumble by the Vikings playmaker to a touchdown), coupled with an efficient quarterback (who, unlike Darnold, didn’t lose the ball) and a clever game plan – and a team that won 14 more games in the regular season and was considered the favorite before the game is completely out of the picture.

And suddenly dreaming of a big win is not only allowed, but justified. These Rams undoubtedly have what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl.

Because the rebuild after the triumph in the 2021 season didn’t take as long as was feared. Because the pieces of the puzzle are back in the right place. At the right time.

Stafford has thrown just one interception in his last eight games. And he knows playoffs. The 36-year-old is now 5-1 in his six postseason games for Los Angeles. He has already proven that even the biggest of stages is not too big for him.

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are finally both healthy – and thus one of the best receiver duos in the league. The defense has finally emancipated itself from Aaron Donald and put on arguably its best performance of the season in time for the playoff opener.

And: the Rams have momentum on their side.

The move to exile in Arizona because of the fires in Los Angeles might have unsettled or even thrown off track many other teams. The situation is anything but easy.

But the Rams took on the challenge, rose to it and proved that they know how to deal with enormous resistance.

A knowledge that should not be underestimated, that of their own strength.

Every NFL team should fear these Rams

Now Los Angeles faces another team with 14 regular season wins: the Philadelphia Eagles.

A team that won just as convincingly, if less impressively, in the Wild Card Round. A team that is likely to put up a lot more resistance than the Vikings.

A team that the Rams might have to survive a few tense moments against. But tremble? After this demonstration of power, in this form, not very likely.

It is the others who should be trembling.