Matthew Stafford gets what amounts to a Mulligan–or, do-over–in the NFL, with the Los Angeles Rams set to face the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
Stafford is ready.
The MVP hopeful did not have a good game by his own admission, and the stakes are even higher for this meeting than they were in the last one. Stafford knows he must perform up to his standard in his second-chance opportunity.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Looking to Make Amends
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams leaves the field after a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.
Stafford spoke candidly about his performance, in particular, noting that he has to play better this time around.
“I’d like not to throw it to their team, and I think that was the story of the game when you think about it. We moved the ball well in some areas. Scored a couple. In the red zone, did some nice things. Ran it well. And just had the turnovers,” Stafford told reporters on January 6.
“Really, you look at their defense, that’s what they’ve been able to do to a lot of teams. Whether it’s getting a tip at the line of scrimmage and somebody making a play on it, or somebody in the back end making a play, or stripping the ball. So, they’re an opportunistic group with a bunch of playmakers.”
Stafford’s task will be more difficult in the rematch.
The Panthers reinforced their group, just like the Rams are, in the form of two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn.
“I feel like they call similar things. But it’s just adding in a All-Pro-type player,” Stafford said. “I think both our corners are as good as you’ll see in the league. Have unique skill sets to themselves. They play to their strengths. Their defense helps those guys play to their strength, and they’re really good football players. I think as far as backends go, it’s about as good as we’ve seen all year, and um it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
Stafford completed 64.3% of his passes for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in the first meeting against the Panthers, a 31-28 loss that also saw the three-time Pro Bowler fumble on his Rams’ final possession.
Matthew Stafford Sets Tone for Rematch vs Panthers
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Atlanta Falcons.
Stafford completed 64.3% of his passes for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in the first meeting against the Panthers, a 31-28 loss that also saw the three-time Pro Bowler fumble on his Rams’ final possession.
Stafford spoke candidly about watching film of that first meeting as part of the Rams’ preparation for this upcoming one.
Despite the same opponent, plenty has changed for both sides with time left before game day.
“It’s all part of it. Obviously, how they played us. We’re a little bit of a different team now than we were back then. They’re healthier now than they were when we played them. So, there’s some things that are going to change that are different from what happened when we played them. Obviously still a really talented team,” Stafford said
“Speaking specifically against what I’ll be facing and our offense will be facing, their defense, playing really good football right now. The last few weeks, they’ve shut down some offenses that have done a really nice job.”
Stafford said the Rams will have their “work cut out for us,” praising the Panthers’ talent at all three levels of the defense and their coaching staff.
“Ton of respect for them and what they can do,” Stafford said.
The Panthers were 15th in scoring and passing defense and 16th overall during the regular season, but they were eighth in interceptions. They also recorded multiple takeaways in three of their final six games.
Matthew Stafford Sends Strong Message Before Rams-Panthers Rematch