Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams overwhelmed the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold for an NFL playoff record nine games and winning their wild-card game 27-9 on Monday night.

Rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams, who looked comfortable from the first snap in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium. LA scored a touchdown on its first drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The game was moved to the suburbs of Phoenix — nearly 400 miles east of the Rams’ home in Inglewood, Calif. — as wildfires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area. A “Thank You Firefighters and First Responders” banner was visible in one end zone, and an “LA Together” banner was visible before the game.

“There’s a feeling on the team – this is for LA,” Rams running back Kyren Williams said Saturday. “This is for the hope back home that they can hold on to, that the Rams will be the people that can take them away from whatever they’re going through for a few hours.”

LA’s next game is on the East Coast on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Verse’s touchdown with 4:35 left in the second quarter gave the Rams a 17-3 lead. Darnold was under pressure from lightning-quick cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon when he lost the ball. Verse grabbed it, ran untouched across the field and somersaulted into the end zone.

The game sent Rams fans into a frenzy – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said about 45,000 fans traveled from California for the game and the 63,400-seat stadium appeared to be full.

It was the culmination of a brutal first half for Darnold, who was making his first appearance in the NFL playoffs. He was sacked five times before halftime and threw an interception when Cobie Durant intercepted a pass intended for Jordan Addison.

Minnesota had a chance to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the final game of the regular season, but Darnold struggled with a loss in Detroit. His poor finish to the season raises questions about his long-term future with the Vikings after playing this season on a one-year contract.