Regardless of the circumstance — chilly, snow, rain, wind, noise — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is cool, calm and picked up.
However the Seventeenth-year professional is just not quiet.
Particularly within the huddle. Particularly at decibel-delirious Lumen Area in Seattle.
“He’s screaming,” tight finish Davis Allen mentioned Wednesday, chuckling. “He’s not speaking regular, that’s for positive… He does an amazing job ensuring guys are the place they must be.”
Since becoming a member of the Rams in 2021, Stafford is 3-1 at Lumen Area, the place the Rams will play the Seahawks on Sunday within the NFC championship sport.
Requested how he thought he had performed in Seattle, Stafford immediately ticked via all the Rams’ performances.
A Thursday evening victory in 2021. Sitting out 2022 due to harm. A walk-off landing go to win in additional time in 2024, and an additional time loss this season in Week 16.
“It’s at all times an amazing setting,” Stafford mentioned.
“I feel that provides a peaceful within the midst of a few of these chaotic moments,” Coach Sean McVay says of Matthew Stafford.
(John Froschauer / Related Press)
Stafford, 37, goals to proceed what has been an MVP-level season with a victory that may give him a shot at a second Tremendous Bowl title.
Two weeks in the past, Stafford engineered a game-winning landing drive in a wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.. Final Sunday, he led a game-winning field-goal drive in additional time to beat the Chicago Bears in Chicago.
Stafford, who suffered a sprained proper index finger in opposition to the Panthers, was not at his greatest for many of the sport in opposition to the Bears.
On a chilly, snowy and windy evening at Soldier Area, Stafford accomplished solely 20 of 42 passes for 258 yards, with no touchdowns.
His 47.6% completion proportion was the bottom of his 12-game playoff profession, and the bottom since a 48.3% efficiency in a 2023 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium.
However Stafford is anticipated to bounce again in opposition to the Seahawks.
In 4 video games at Lumen Area, he has handed for 1,454 yards and 6 touchdowns, with two interceptions.
On Dec. 18, he accomplished 29 of 49 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-37 additional time defeat.
The Rams had the ball within the fourth quarter however failed to maneuver into field-goal vary.
In additional time, Stafford linked with receiver Puka Nacua for a 41-yard landing go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold answered with a landing go, after which transformed a two-point conversion go for the victory.
“Didn’t play as much as our normal in some areas, and had possibilities to complete that sport,” Stafford mentioned. “However didn’t.”
The Rams and Stafford closed the deal of their divisional-round victory over the Bears.
As he did within the 2021 playoffs — when he engineered a 42-second, game-winning drive in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Stafford got here up large within the divisional spherical when the Rams wanted him most.
The Rams had the ball late within the fourth quarter however have been compelled to punt — and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams despatched the sport into additional time with a spectacular landing go.
In additional time, after Rams security Kam Curl intercepted a go, Stafford accomplished passes to tight finish Colby Parkinson and receivers Davante Adams and Nacua throughout a drive that ended with a 42-yard, game-winning area purpose by Harrison Mevis, placing the Rams within the NFC championship sport for the third time underneath coach Sean McVay.
The highest-seeded Seahawks are coming off a 41-6 rout of the San Francisco 49ers, a dominating efficiency that started with a kickoff return for a landing and didn’t let up in any part.
Matthew Stafford strains up underneath middle in opposition to the Carolina Panthers throughout a wild- card playoff sport this month.
(Brian Westerholt / Related Press)
McVay is assured that Stafford will as soon as once more deal with the setting at Lumen Area.
“Simply that command, that confidence, that poise, that capacity to like these pressure-filled moments,” McVay mentioned, “I feel that provides a peaceful within the midst of a few of these chaotic moments, and I feel that resonates together with his teammates, and it creates a perception that’s not unique to the offense.
“That’s our complete soccer staff, teaching employees included.”
Heart Coleman Shelton mentioned due to the noise at Lumen Area, gamers decrease their heads within the huddle to listen to Stafford.
“You’ll be able to hear the play-call the decrease you go,” he mentioned.
The performs are being delivered by a quarterback who “at all times rises to the event,” Shelton mentioned.
“The more durable the setting,” he mentioned, “it nearly looks like the extra he thrives.”
