NFL Thursday Night: Will Reichard is still perfect after 7 games

With Pro Bowl receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back on the field, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 on Thursday night, spoiling another flawless performance from kicker Will Reichard.

Reichard, a former Hoover High School standout, joined the Vikings from Alabama in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27. Against the Rams, Reichard made field goals of 23 and 35 yards and kicked two extra points.

In seven games of his rookie season, Reichard made 14 of 14 field goal attempts, including four from more than 50 yards, and 20 of 20 on extra point throws. In the NFL's AFC/NFC era, no kicker has made as many field goals and as many extra points without a miss in the first seven games of his career.

Garrett Hartley came closest to Reichard's performance. After being traded to the New Orleans Saints midway through the 2008 season, Hartley made 12 field goals and 24 extra points without a miss in his first seven games. (Extra point kicks were 13 yards shorter back then.)

Reichard was able to score an extra point at the end of Minnesota's first two possessions of the game. But after that the Vikings only managed two field goals. Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold was 8 of 8 for 97 yards and two touchdowns on the first two series, then 10 of 17 for 143 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions the rest of the way.

Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

Nacua had missed the last five games and Kupp had missed the last four. Nacua returned with seven receptions for 106 yards and Kupp had five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes and running back Kyren Williams caught one while running for 97 yards.