Vikings vs. Rams Playoff Game Remains in Los Angeles amid Wildfires; Backup Announced

Doric SamJanuary 8, 2025

Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Several areas across Los Angeles are being affected by devastating wildfires, but the NFC Wild Card Game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings on Monday night remains on schedule as of Wednesday:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetThe NFL has announced that the #Vikings-#Rams playoff game is still being planned for LA. But there is a contingency plan. pic.twitter.com/CLlazq2uKn

The league announced it has prepared a contingency plan for Monday with the game potentially being moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona if necessary.

The NFL previously said it was “monitoring the situation’s potential impact” on the game, which is scheduled to be played at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry.

On Wednesday, three major wildfires were burning in the Los Angeles metropolitan area from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, leading to evacuation orders for at least 70,000 people. Per Thiry, officials said the evacuation number was constantly changing because of new orders continually being issued.

“The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA,” the NFL wrote in a statement.

A team official for the Rams said the team is also monitoring the situation. Los Angeles had the day off on Wednesday but is scheduled to resume practice on Thursday. The team’s headquarters is located in Woodland Hills, just 13 miles north of the Pacific Palisades, which is being ravaged by the wildfires. However, the Santa Monica Mountains separate the two towns.

As of Wednesday morning, the Rams said no players or staff have been impacted by the fires. A team official for the Los Angeles Chargers, who will visit the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday, said the team tweaked its practice schedule on Wednesday to limit players’ time outdoors. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Tuesday that his family has been evacuated due to the wildfires.

Thiry noted that the air quality index in the area varied between 150 to well above 300, with 150 considered “very unhealthy” by the system used to measure air pollution. The air quality of Inglewood, California, where SoFi Stadium is located, was measured at 281 on Wednesday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires,” Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on social media. “Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances.”