Stafford, Rams face Panthers on Saturday in NFL Playoffs

When Matt Stafford walked off the field at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte on Nov. 30, he knew he let a golden opportunity slip through his grasp. 

The Rams looked like the best team in the NFL and he looked like the clear MVP favorite with dominant play up to that point. 

Rather than extending Los Angeles’ win streak to seven, the Rams were stunned by Bryce Young and the Panthers in one of the most shocking upsets off the NFL season. Stafford threw two interceptions, ending his NFL record of 28 straight TD passes without an interception, including a pick-six in the first quarter. 

But it was his final two plays on the field that stuck with him most. 

Facing 3rd-and-5 and in the redzone, Stafford and the offense blew it. First they were whistled for a delay of game penalty, and then Stafford was sacked and fumbled with 2:25 remaining, effectively ending the game. 

“I can’t take that,” Stafford said via ESPN. “That’s on nobody but me. I have to get that thing off. I thought I had enough time.”

“They made the plays to be able to win the football game,” Rams coach Sean McVay added. “The things that we’ve been doing at a high clip we didn’t do today. We gave ourselves chances to get back in it and retake leads. And turnovers and some of the fourth down conversions they were able to convert was a difference.”

Los Angeles will again make the cross country trip to face the Panthers but this time with much higher stakes as both teams will kickoff the 2026 postseason on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PT.

It’s rare to get a second chance in sports, especially in the same season, but that’s precisely what’s awaiting the Rams. 

But it’s not as if they’ve been playing well enough to deserve it. 

Los Angeles hasn’t looked like the team many analysts pegged as the Super Bowl favorite — although they do have the second best odds according to Kalshi, a New York-based financial exchange and prediction market. They’ve limped into the postseason by losing two of their last three games, including an embarrassing showing against the Falcons on Monday Night Football when they fell behind 21-0 at the half.

So why are the Rams still considered one of the favorites?

It all starts with the offense.

Led by head coach Sean McVay, Stafford, and arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league, the offense was the best in NFL. The Rams led the league in scoring (30.5) and total yards (394.6) per game.

McVay is widely considered among the top offensive minds in the league. His creativity and ability to get the ball to his playmakers in space allows Stafford to shine. Add in the complementary pieces of running back Kyren Williams (1,252 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns) and tight end Colby Parkinson (eight touchdowns) and it makes sense why Los Angeles is vaunted offensively. 

But the real engine of the offense is the wide receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. 

Nacua might be the best in the game — although Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase might have issues with that take — and his numbers this season reflect as much.

His 129 receptions led the NFL and his 666 yards after catch was best among wide receivers. Add in his 1,715 receiving yards (second in the NFL) and it makes sense why he’s considered the favorite to win the Offensive Player of the Year award.

“Just the consistency, the way that he works, he’s going to be getter because of the way physically he takes care of his body,” McVay said earlier this week via NFL.com. “He’s really conscientious, he’s got a great feel and as you accumulate experience, that can be a really great learning experience.”

But according to McVay, one of the secrets to Nacua’s continued evolution is Adams.

“I think he’s really leaned into Davante (Adams),” he said. “I think Davante’s kind of helped him continue to take his game to another level, but he’s so physically and mentally tough.”

Speaking of Adams, his absence over the final three games of the season was one of the primary reasons the Rams looked out of sync. Dealing with a hamstring injury, he’s expected to be full-go Saturday afternoon, and with it comes an offense at full strength. 

One of the more physically imposing pass-catchers in game, Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdowns this season despite playing just 14 games.

To recap, the Rams are armed with the best head coach in the league, an MVP favorite at QB, the league leaders in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and a supporting cast that more than holds their own. 

Come Saturday, does Los Angeles get revenge and look like potential Super Bowl champs? Or do they piss the bed and look like chumps?

Time will tell.