Matthew Stafford put an end to the speculation before it could ever really begin ahead of the Los Angeles Rams’ Divisional Round matchup against the Chicago Bears.
The three-time Pro Bowler and first-time First Team All-Pro suffered a hand injury during the first half of the Rams’ win over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. He finished the game, and he got sharper in the most critical moments.
Still, even Stafford admitted that adrenaline was a factor during the game.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Clears Air Before Bears Game
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on against the Carolina Panthers.
Stafford is the betting favorite to win the MVP this season, and he is the key to the Rams’ postseason hopes of not only a Super Bowl berth but a victory.
He got his finger bent backward against the Panthers and then hit it multiple times during the eventual victory. His status was a significant topic during the Panthers game as his accuracy waned during the heart of the contest.
Stafford rallied himself and the Rams to victory, though, and downplayed the severity.
“Hand is good. I’m not worried about it at all,” Stafford said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on January 12. “I was just throwing a ball over the middle to Puka [Nacua] and caught somebody’s forearm. Just bent it way back.
“It was fine, a little bit stiff throughout the game, like a jammed finger. But I know by Sunday next week I’ll be feeling great.”
Stafford spoke candidly about the injury after the game, noting that it “wasn’t pleasant” or “great,” but that they would “see what it is.” Stafford has been diagnosed with a sprain, with nothing else revealed in an MRI.
Despite some concerns about the issue potentially lingering, Stafford’s track record suggests he should be able to play through the injury.
That is, so long as he does not aggravate it significantly during the contest.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was cautiously optimistic, noting that Stafford was accurate immediately after suffering the injury. Moreover, after initially deferring to Stafford on the status of his finger, McVay expressed confidence that the MVP hopeful would face the Bears.
Fittingly, one of Stafford’s former coaches also weighed in on the QB’s toughness ahead of a critical matchup.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Gets Honest About Matthew Stafford
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Stafford spent his final two seasons with the Detroit Lions alongside Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who was an assistant on that team.
Johnson spoke candidly about the veteran passer during his press conference on Monday.
“I’ve got so much respect for that guy. You talk about the ultimate competitor. He’s one of the more supremely talented throwers of the football I’ve ever been around in my life. He’s outstanding. I think he’s a great teammate. But what I think, second to none with him, is his toughness, physical toughness,” Johnson told reporters on January 12.
“This guy’s gone through a lot. And yet, finds a way to will himself onto the field to be there for his teammates. So, when you look at him from just a competitor standpoint, this is a really good player, and he’s going to will himself to help his team out the most.”
Johnson also noted that this will be the coldest game that the Rams will have played in this season, with single-digit forecasts and the possibility of snow looming large.
The Bears coach does not expect that to hinder the Rams’ QB too much, though.
“I think the fact that Matthew Stafford has played well in cold games in his past, I don’t know how much of an advantage that gives you over their passing game, necessarily. But there’s a lot of elements that go into a game like this.”
Of note, given the weather and Stafford’s injury status, is that eight of Stafford’s interceptions (including postseason) have come on the road, and the Bears led the NFL in INTs in 2025.
If Stafford’s finger becomes an issue, it could prove quite problematic for the Rams.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Sets Record Straight Amid Bears HC’s Comments