NFL could move Vikings-Rams to Arizona due to L.A. | College News

Five days earlier than the Rams host the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC wild-card playoff recreation, the NFL mentioned it was preserving an eye on the wildfires which have ravaged components of Los Angeles County since Tuesday.

The league mentioned it at the moment plans for the Rams to host the Vikings during their playoff recreation Monday night time at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood south of the place fires burned on Wednesday, but it surely has a contingency plan if the fires adversely impression the flexibility to host the sport.

“As with all games, there are contingency plans in the event a change in location is needed,” the NFL mentioned in a assertion. “In this instance, the game would be played on Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.”

Wind gusts reaching practically 100 mph have fueled the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Woodley fires, which began Tuesday and have been answerable for a minimum of 5 deaths and have burned more than 1,100 buildings as of Wednesday afternoon.

The NFC West champion and No. 4-seeded Rams are scheduled to play the No. 5 Vikings at 5 p.m. PST on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. With a scheduled day without work from observe Wednesday, it stays to be seen whether or not the Rams will discover practising someplace different than their Woodland Hills facility later this week.

The Rams posted on X that their “hearts are with those affected by” the fires and “the first responders protecting our community.”

“Be safe,” the group wrote.

Star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have been among the many Rams gamers who posted comparable sentiments.

“Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances,” Kupp wrote.

Nacua added: “God bless the families impacted!”

The Chargers, who additionally play their home video games at SoFi Stadium however are opening the playoffs on the highway Saturday towards the Houston Texans, will donate $200,000 in wildfire aid efforts, the group introduced Wednesday. The money might be break up throughout the American Red Cross, the L.A. Fire Department Foundation, Team Rubicon and pet rescue organizations sheltering animals displaced by the fires.

Returning to the playoffs for the primary time since 2022, the Chargers adjusted their observe routine Wednesday to restrict gamers’ time exterior on the El Segundo observe facility. Offensive gamers and defensive scout group members alternated on-field periods with defensive gamers and offensive scout group members and a few coaches and group personnel have been carrying face masks on the sector.

While most Chargers gamers and coaches stay close to the South Bay and have been exterior of fast hazard, offensive coordinator Greg Roman mentioned vast receivers coach Sanjay Lal and his household had to evacuate from their Calabasas home.

The Chargers canceled one of their postseason fan occasions in Sherman Oaks, initially scheduled for Friday, however will proceed with “Charge Up to Playoffs” occasions in Orange, Rancho Cucamonga and Hermosa Beach whereas additionally holding provide drives for evacuation facilities.

Fans attending occasions are requested to deliver generally requested objects for an evacuation scenario, together with bottled water, blankets, new or gently used garments, first assist kits, hygiene merchandise (cleaning soap, shampoo, deodorant, saline resolution, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer), child provides (diapers, formulation, moist wipes), female hygiene merchandise, paper towels, toilet paper, moveable chargers, pet food and water.