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Baxter Bits: Vikings (11-6) at Rams (13-3)
By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com
Minnesota makes their way to the Gateway City for the second straight year looking to extend their winning ways in this storied series as these franchises collide in the playoffs for the seventh time while the city of St. Louis hosts an NFL postseason game for the first time ever.
|  | | | Jeff George leads the Vikings into St. Louis. |
Including playoffs, the Vikings own a 21-12-2 overall advantage in this series and have prevailed in the last six meetings dating back to 1987, including a wild 38-31 triumph last season at the TWA Dome
(Week 2) in the most recent battle between the clubs.
As previously noted, this marks the seventh postseason meeting between these clubs, with Minnesota prevailing in five of the previous six battles, posting victories in the 1969 NFL Western Conference Championship Game (23-20) and the 1974 (14-10) and 1976 (24-13) NFC Championship Games, all three contests at Minnesota's Metropolitan Stadium, as well as the 1977 (14-7) NFC Divisional Playoffs at the muddy L.A. Coliseum and the 1988 (28-17) NFC First Round Playoffs at the Metrodome, while the Rams claimed a 34-10 win in the 1978 NFC Divisional Playoffs at the L.A. Coliseum.
Including playoffs, while Vikings own just an 8-10 road record in this rivalry dating back to 1961, Purple Gang have won three straight road games in this series (2-0 in Anaheim, 1-0 in St. Louis) dating back to 1987.
Numbers: Including playoffs, the Vikings have allowed 21 sacks and committed just 16 turnovers in 11 wins, while committing 23 turnovers and allowing 24 sacks in 6 losses in '99. Including playoffs, the Vikings have 26 takeaways in 11 wins, seven takeaways in six losses in '99. Including playoffs, QB Jeff George has thrown 2 or more touchdown passes in 9 of his last 12 games.
Rams QB Kurt Warner has thrown 41 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 16 games in '99 (13-3). In '98, since-departed Rams QBs Tony Banks and Steve Bono combined to throw just 12 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions in 16 games in '98 (4-12). Warner has thrown two or more touchdown passes in six straight games and 14-of-16 contests in '99, and three or more touchdown passes in nine of those contests. In his last 32 games dating back to last season (16 with Colts in '98, 16 with Rams in '99), Rams RB Marshall Faulk has gained 4,656 yards from scrimmage and scored 22 touchdowns, rushing for 2,700 yards and 13 touchdowns, plus catching 173 passes for 1,956 yards and nine touchdowns. In 16 games in '99, Faulk has rushed for 1,381 yards and seven touchdowns, plus caught 87 passes for 1,048 yards and five touchdowns, making Faulk just the second player in NFL history to total 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season (San Francisco 49ers RB Roger Craig in 1985), as well as setting an NFL record for most total yards from scrimmage in a season (2,429).
The Rams have scored 66 touchdowns (55 offensive, 11 returns) in 16 games in '99, tied for the second most in one season in NFL history. In 16 games in '99 (13-3), Rams have outscored the opposition a combined 123-49 (plus-74) in the first quarter. In 16 games in '98 (4-12), Rams were outscored a combined 116-37 (minus-79) in the first quarter...Rams are 13-3 in 1999 and are an NFL-best plus-284 in point differential (526-242). From 1990-98, Rams were 45-99 and were an NFL-worst minus-886
(2,595-3,481) in point differential...Rams have forced 2 or more turnovers in 8 straight games, intercepting 2 or more passes in each of those contests. The Rams have allowed 18 sacks in 13 wins, 15 sacks in three losses in '99. They have forced 34 turnovers in 13 wins, two takeaways in three losses in '99. The Rams have scored 30 or more points in six straight games. They have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in five straight games.
The Coaches: Vikings head coach Dennis Green is 3-6 in postseason play, while Rams head coach Dick Vermeil is 3-4 in postseason play (3-4 with Eagles, 0-0 with Rams).
Postseason History: The Vikings are making their 4th consecutive and 22nd overall playoff appearance (20th since merger) and are 16-21 in postseason play (14-19 since merger), while Rams are making their 23rd overall playoff appearance (15th since merger) and are 13-20 in postseason play (10-14 since merger).
Things To Look For: It's the much-anticipated shoot-out everyone has been waiting for as Dennis Green's red-hot Purple Gang looks to outgun Dick Vermeil's Rams, who have been the league's most consistent team in '99, not easy in this topsy-turvy season. Despite last week's convincing win over the Cowboys, Minnesota's defense will have to play much better in all areas to pull out the victory.
Etc.: The Rams are making their first playoff appearance since 1989 (ending the longest current playoff drought in the NFC) and are hosting a postseason game for the first time since the then-L.A. Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 20-0, in the 1985 NFC Divisional Playoffs at Anaheim. The Vikings and Rams are facing each other in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive decade (1960s-1990s); the only other two teams to battle each other in the postseason in more decades (6: 1930s-1960s, 1980s-1990s) and more consecutive decades (4: 1930s-1960s) are the Bears and Giants. Including playoffs, the Vikings have won four straight games and are 9-2 in their last 11 games after opening 2-4 in '99. The Rams have won eight straight home games in 1999 by a combined score of 281-84 (27-10, 35-7, 42-20, 34-3, 35-10, 43-12, 31-10, 34-12) and nine straight home games dating back to '98, by a combined score of 313-102, winning all nine contests by 14 or more points (including a 32-18 win over New England in Week 15 of '98).
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