Several Rams went into their game at Minnesota sick with the flu but
they left with a healthy victory over the Vikings, 31-3. The Times’ Mal
Florence noted that it marked the first time all season that the
offense and defense had performed at a high level in the same game.

Deacon Jones was the sickest Ram–he had a 102-degree fever but it
didn’t slow him down. "Jones merely played one of the most flawless,
intimidating games of his All-Pro career," Florence wrote.

"When I got up Saturday I had such a bad headache that I felt my
head was going to come off," Jones said. "I felt lousy this morning
too. But nothing was going to keep me out of that game. I’d have gotten
out of my deathbed to play in it."

The victory put the Rams in position to face Baltimore on Dec. 15
for the division title, as long as they took care of the Chicago Bears
in their next game.

"We had begun to doubt ourselves before this game but we don’t
anymore," Greg Schumacher said. "This team has found itself. We’re
going to rewrite the record books."

–Keith Thursby