It was a modest goal. After being sidelined all of training camp, all Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford desired was for his sore back to heal in time for the season opener.
“Just make it to Week 1,” he joked.
Mission accomplished.
“We got there,” he said, “and then just held on for dear life.”
-
Share via
Gary Klein breaks down what went right for the Rams in their 37-20 win against the Cardinals as the team shifts its focus to the Carolina Panthers.
Stafford did more than that. Despite some “touch and go moments,” he did not miss a snap during perhaps the finest season of his 17-year career. And on Sunday, Stafford made a final case for his first most valuable player award.
He passed for four touchdowns in a 37-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals that gave the Rams the No. 5 seed for the NFC playoffs and a wild-card matchup against the No. 4 Carolina Panthers on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. PST in Charlotte, N.C.
The Seattle Seahawks are seeded No. 1 and will have a first-round bye. The No. 2 Chicago Bears play host to the No. 7 Green Bay Packers, and the No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles play host to the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers.
Stafford, 37, is trying to lead the Rams to their second Super Bowl title in five seasons with the team.
Against the Cardinals (3-14) he completed 25 of 40 passes for 259 yards. He connected with tight end Colby Parkinson for two touchdowns and receiver Puka Nacua and tight end Tyler Higbee for one each in a victory that gave the Rams a 12-5 record and second place in the NFC West.
Stafford finished with a league-leading 46 touchdown passes and 4,707 yards passing. He also moved past Dan Marino for seventh in career touchdown passes with 423.
Rams quarterback Matt Stafford passed for four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Did Stafford think he made a strong case for MVP on Sunday?
“I don’t know if it was today or the whole year,” he said, chuckling. “I’m just trying to do the best I can, man.”
Nobody did it better, according to coach Sean McVay.
“His play speaks for itself,” McVay said.
Edge rusher Jared Verse agreed.
“He the freakin’ G.O.A.T.,” Verse said, adding, “That’s one of the best players to ever live.”
The MVP will not be announced until the week of the Super Bowl. In the meantime the Rams will need Stafford to be at the top of his game, starting with their playoff opener against the Panthers, who defeated them in Week 13 at Bank of America Stadium.
Stafford had two passes intercepted in that game — one that was returned for a touchdown — lost a fumble and also was responsible for a crucial delay-of-game penalty late in the fourth quarter.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett was sacked six times in a loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But the Rams are confident they can avenge that defeat. After losing consecutive games at Seattle and Atlanta, the Rams returned to their winning ways at home. It wasn’t a dominating performance — the Cardinals led 20-16 late in the third quarter before Stafford led three touchdown drives — but McVay gave it full spin.
“I like where we’re at right now,” he said, adding, “What a great opportunity we have to go to Carolina and see what the hell we can do.”
The Rams will do it with confidence after their starters shined in the regular season finale.
“That’s what today was about,” defensive lineman Kobie Turner said, “building that momentum.”
To win their first Super Bowl since the 2021 season, the Rams will need the offense, defense and special teams to play complete games.
An offense that features Stafford and Nacua — who finished with a league-best 129 catches — got a boost Sunday by Higbee’s return from injured reserve. The 10th-year pro caught five passes for 91 yards, both season highs.
It would get even stronger against the Panthers with the expected return of star receiver Davante Adams from a hamstring injury. The future Hall of Famer led the league with 14 touchdown catches despite missing the last three games. Offensive lineman Kevin Dotson also could return from an ankle injury during the playoffs.
A defense that amassed six sacks Sunday would be fortified by the return of safety Quentin Lake, who practiced last week for the first time since sustaining an elbow injury in November and will be activated for the playoffs.
Special teams also appear to have solidified under interim coordinator Ben Kotwica: See Verse’s blocked field goal against the Falcons that he returned for a touchdown, and kicker Harrison Mevis’ three field goals against the Cardinals.
Before the Rams lost to the Panthers in November, they were seeded No. 1 in the NFC and on track for a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the playoffs. Now, to reach the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the Rams might have to win three games on the road. They’ve lost three of their last four away from home.
“We play our best,” Turner said, “it doesn’t matter where we’re at or who we’re up against.”
McVay said the Rams would “come out swingin.’” And with Stafford at the controls and playing well, they are capable of knocking off any other other team. So don’t bother Stafford with any more questions about the MVP.
“I got bigger fish to fry at the moment,” he said. “So that’s what I’ll be worried about.”
This story originally appeared on LA Times
