Wildfires Jeopardize Rams-Vikings Playoff Game
Southern California is currently enduring three major wildfires in Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and Altadena. On a substantially less important note, the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to play a Wildcard playoff game in Inglewood on Monday night.
Wildfires Jeopardize Rams-Vikings Playoff Game
The NFL acknowledged Wednesday that the fires could affect the time and location of Rams-Vikings, as the league released the following statement: “The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA.”
ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry noted the conditions in Los Angeles, “The air quality index in the area varied Wednesday from 150 to well above 300, depending on specific locations, with smoke and ash blanketing the region. A rating of 150 is considered ‘very unhealthy,’ according to the system used to measure air pollution. The air quality in Inglewood, California — where SoFi Stadium is located — was 281 as of Wednesday afternoon.”
For those focused on the football aspect, the Rams-Vikings playoff game would take place, almost no matter what, well, somewhere. Some Vikings fans opportunistically wondered if the game could be moved to U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night, but that is severely unlikely to unfold as it would create an unfair advantage swayed against the Rams, the home team and winner of the NFC West.
If the game is moved — there are still about two to three days to determine that — the NFL would probably send both teams to Las Vegas or Arizona, stadiums within a reasonable proximity of Los Angeles. In the past, with emergencies, the league has leaned on somewhat close geographic locations to preserve some form of homefield advantage, when applicable, for the affected team.
Associated Press referenced the damage so far in Southern California: “AccuWeather estimates $52 billion to $57 billion in preliminary damage and economic loss has occurred from the raging Los Angeles area wildfires. The company said the estimate comes from an advisory that will soon be released.”
President Joe Biden said Wednesday, “We’re prepared to do anything and everything as long as it takes to contain these fires and help reconstruct, make sure we get to normal. It’s going to be a hell of a long way; it’s going to take time, but the federal government is here to stay as long as you need it and everything you need.”
President-elect Donald Trump blamed Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsome personally for the fires. He posted on Truth Social: “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.”
No “water restoration declaration,” mentioned by Trump, exists. The wildfires in California are accelerated by wind, not a lack of water melting in the north.
Trump also claimed that Newsome “wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” and that “Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
The NFL should have a verdict on the location of Rams-Vikings by Friday or Saturday.
Minnesota is favored to win by one or two points.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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