It was a modest goal. After being sidelined for the entire training camp, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford The wish was that his sore back would heal by the opening of the season.
“Just make it through the first week,” he joked.
Mission accomplished.
“We got there,” he said, “and then we just hung on for dear life.”
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Gary Klein breaks down what went down for the Rams in their 37-20 win over the Cardinals as the team turns its attention to the Carolina Panthers.
Stafford did more. Despite some “touch and move moments,” he didn't miss a beat during arguably the best season of his 17-year career. And on Sunday, Stafford presented his first Most Valuable Player Award for the final time.
He scored four touchdowns in victory with a score of 37-20 over the Arizona Cardinals, giving the Rams the fifth NFC playoff spot and a wild card matchup against the No. 4 Carolina Panthers on Saturday at 1:30 pm PST in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Seattle Seahawks are the No. 1 seed and have a first-round bye. The No. 2 Chicago Bears host the No. 7 Green Bay Packers and the No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles host 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.
He completed 25 of 40 passes for 259 yards against the Cardinals (3-14). He connected with the tight end. Colby Parkinson for two touchdowns and a receiver Puka Nacua and tight end Tyler Higbee one apiece in the victory, which 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 passed Dan Marino for seventh career assists with 423.
Rams quarterback Matt Stafford threw four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals at Sophie Stadium on 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 all year,” he said, chuckling. “I’m just trying to do the best I can, man.”
According to coach Sean McVay, no one did it better.
“His play speaks for itself,” McVay said.
Edge rusher Jared Wehrs agreed.
“He’s the damn GOAT,” Wehrs said, adding, “He’s one of the best players who ever lived.”
The MVP won't be announced until Super Bowl week. The Rams, meanwhile, 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.
In that game, Stafford had two passes intercepted—one returned for a touchdown, he lost a fumble, and was also responsible for the game-tying delay of game penalty late in the fourth quarter.
Cardinals cornerback Jacoby Brissett was sacked six times in their loss to the Rams at Sophie Stadium on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But the Rams are confident they can avenge this loss. After back-to-back losses in Seattle and Atlanta, the Rams are back to winning ways at home. It wasn't a dominant performance — the Cardinals led 20-16 late in the third quarter before Stafford ran for three touchdowns — but McVay gave it full force.
“I love where we are 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 so with confidence after their starting lineup shined in the regular-season finale.
“That's what today was all about,” defensive lineman Kobe Turner said, “building on that momentum.”
To win their first Super Bowl since the 2021 season, the Rams will need their offense, defense and special teams to play full games.
The offense, which features Stafford and Nacua, which finished with a league-leading 129 catches, received an extra boost Sunday with Higbee's return from injured reserve. The 10th-year senior caught five passes for 91 yards, both season highs.
He will be 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 passes despite missing the final three games. Forward Kevin Dotson could also return from an ankle injury during the playoffs.
The defense, which had six sacks on Sunday, will be boosted by the return of cornerback Quentin Lake, who practiced last week for the first time since injuring his elbow in November and will be activated for the playoffs.
Special teams also appears to have strengthened under interim coordinator Ben Kotwitz: see Wehrs' blocked field goal against the Falcons, which he returned for a touchdown, and kicker Harrison Mevis' three field goals against the Cardinals.
Before Rams lost to Panthers they were the No. 1 seed in the NFC in November and were on their way to a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Now, to reach the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the Rams may have to win three games on the road. They have lost three of their last four matches on the road.
“We play as hard as we can,” Turner said, “It doesn’t matter where we are or who we’re up against.”
McVay said the Rams will “come out of the game with a bang.” And with Stafford at the helm and a good game, they can knock out any other team. So don't bother Stafford with questions about MVP.
“I have bigger fish to fry now,” he said. “That's what I'll worry about.”
