Two teams sharing Super Bowl dreams are meeting at a crossroads Thursday night.
The highflying Los Angeles Rams are one of three unbeaten NFL teams, coming off a remarkable turnaround season under 32-year-old coach Sean McVay.
The Vikings straggle into the monstrous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum coming off one of the worst, and most unexpected, losses in franchise history.
A week ago, Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer tinkered with their team by making three roster moves after an unsatisfying tie at Lambeau Field. This week's course, after a 21-point home loss to the Bills, has been a little more unpredictable.
The short week of preparation was jolted with the absence of defensive end Everson Griffen; the 30-year-old team captain was undergoing a mental health evaluation after police were twice notified Saturday of erratic behavior.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins might not have his best lineup on offense. Two starters, running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) and left tackle Riley Reiff (foot), are questionable.
"We'll have to move some pieces around, obviously," Zimmer said. "But we've always tried to make this a team where we can play, count on one another, and play together. Injuries happen, you lose guys. We can't be 'woe is me,' you got to go out and perform."
Vikings players denied Griffen's absence affected their poor play as 17-point favorites against the Bills after news spread through the locker room about Saturday's incidents.