Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have hit a few speed bumps in recent weeks, and it has cost them in multiple ways, including their latest setback against the Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football” in Week 17.
Stafford and the Rams entered this contest short-handed, as they have many times before this season. However, they were unable to overcome their own miscues.
In the end, the Rams did not lose any postseason ground, but Stafford certainly did.
Matthew Stafford Gets Honest After Costly Showing in Rams’ Loss
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confers with Matthew Stafford #9 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Stafford completed 22 of 38 passes (57.9%) for 269 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in the Rams’ loss to the Falcons.
Afterward, Stafford did not mince words about his performance, saying he played “poorly.”
“I just didn’t play well enough,” Stafford told reporters on December 29. “Nothing they did, to be honest with you. Same kind of stuff that they’ve been doing all year. Just–we didn’t execute well enough. I, obviously, didn’t play well enough, and that’s what it is.”
He threw a pick-6, tying him for the most ever. He nearly had another, but Falcons safety Xavier Watts stepped out of bounds, which was only confirmed after officials reviewed the play.
He admitted being preoccupied with “letting those guys down.”
Rams head coach Sean McVay made his decision after the game that the team’s starters would play in the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, to which Stafford said, “I love to play. So, yeah, I’ll be ready to go.”
As for avoiding a similar performance next week or, even more, in the postseason, Stafford again placed the blame on himself.
It is as simple as making the smart decision on any given play.
“It boils down to execution every week, right?” Stafford asked rhetorically. “Either you do execute and make the throws, or you don’t. And I didn’t do that tonight. So, hurt us, and we weren’t able to overcome it.”
Matthew Stafford Falls From MVP Pole Position
GettyDrake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots participates in an interview after facing the New York Jets.
Stafford’s performance did more than contribute heavily to the Rams’ loss to the Falcons on Monday night. It also saw him fall out of the catbird seat in the race to be the 2025 MVP.
“There’s a new MVP favorite in town. And his name is Drake Maye,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on December 29. “Monday night’s rough showing from prior favorite Matthew Stafford has flipped the two-man race. Maye, as of this posting, has odds of -400. Stafford stands at +300.”
Of course, no one of the bettors have a ballot. The award will be decided by 50. Of which I’m one. And while I won’t make a decision until after Week 18, if the 49ers emerge with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, it’s not very difficult to make a case for running back Christian McCaffrey.”
Maye has led the Patriots to a 13-3 record.
That is tied with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks for the best record in the league through 17 weeks.
Stafford and the Rams are surely more focused on the postseason than awards. The Rams have gone from first place in the NFC to sixth, falling behind not only the Seahawks but also the 49ers over the last several weeks.
Stafford and the Rams have now lost back-to-back games and three of their last five outings.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Sends Clear Message Amid Bad News