INGLEWOOD, Calif. – – Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua missed most of the season due to injury, and the Los Angeles Rams’ dismal record reflected this.

When both star receivers returned for the same primetime showcase, they provided exactly what Matthew Stafford and the Rams have been missing all year — and it was something the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t match.

Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Nacua had 106 yards receiving in their return to the lineup, and Stafford passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the Los Angeles Rams’ 30-20 win over the Vikings on Thursday night.

Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes from Stafford for the Rams (3-4), who won back-to-back games for the first time this season with 386 yards from an offense that looked exponentially more dangerous with its top two receivers in uniform.

“They brought a lot of energy to our team and a lot of confidence,” said Stafford, who had thrown just three TD passes in the Rams’ first six games combined. “It’s not just about the offense. I know the defense feels it too when those guys play there.”

After missing the previous five games, Nacua had seven catches while posting the eighth 100-yard game of his short career. Kupp returned from a four-game absence with five catches for 51 yards, including a 27-yard grab for a key first down late in the fourth quarter.

“It was just so much fun,” Kupp said. “Offensively, we were just able to find ways to keep the sticks moving. The guys just did their job, and it was pretty cool to see us go.”

Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD pass for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put Los Angeles ahead, and he made a 10-yard touchdown with 6:17 to play for a 28–20 lead.

Byron Young then sacked Sam Darnold for a safety with 1:36 left and grabbed Darnold’s facemask on the play. The officials threw no flag, sealing the Rams’ second victory in five days after going 1-4 before their bye.

“I believe in this group,” said coach Sean McVay, who became the winningest coach in Rams history with his 80th win. “I saw determination. I didn’t see any shrinkage. … We did a good job getting back to where we wanted to be.”

McVay also won his first head-to-head meeting with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was his offensive coordinator during the Rams’ Super Bowl championship season three years ago.

“I think we were close on some plays,” O’Connell said. “But when you play against that quarterback, and those receivers get healthy and go out there and make some plays for them, I just think it comes down to (whether we) can get enough rush and coverage by working together to do that.” n quarterback might not give a few extra clicks.

Darnold passed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who followed up their first loss of the season with an ineffective defensive performance. Minnesota also lost starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a left knee injury late in the first half.

Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards, while Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota was held to two field goals in the final three quarters.

“As an offense, we just have to be more consistent,” Darnold said. “The face mask, it is what it is. I thought there was a lot we could have done to not put ourselves in the situation we were in.

Stafford threw at least four TD passes for the 16th time in his career, including four with the Rams. The veteran also passed Dan Marino for ninth in NFL history in total completions.

Both teams scored touchdowns on their first two drives in front of a sold-out crowd at SoFi Stadium. Darnold went 8 for 8 on those drives, while Stafford clearly enjoyed having his two favorite targets back in uniform.

Williams caught a short pass on the Rams’ opening drive and scored a touchdown in his 10th straight game. The Vikings had not allowed a TD in the first quarter all season, and the Rams had not scored on their first drive all season.

Byron Murphy intercepted an overthrown pass from Stafford in the third, and Minnesota went up 17-14 after Jefferson extended the drive with a bobbing, one-handed reception.

Injuries

Vikings: TE TJ Hockenson (knee) and G Dalton Risner (back) were out. … Darrisaw was injured as Minnesota tried to run out the clock to end the first half. O’Connell didn’t have a postgame update.

Rams: Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was inactive due to a shoulder injury. … S Kam Curl injured his knee in the first quarter, but returned in the second.

Next

Vikings: Host Indianapolis in a Sunday night game on November 3.

Rams: At Seattle on Nov. 3.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL