PHILADELPHIA — Less than an hour after the Los Angeles Rams lost 28-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs Sunday, quarterback Matthew Stafford was asked about his NFL future.
Glancing at his watch, Stafford noted that the game hadn’t ended long ago and that he would “take some time to think about it.”
“But I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball,” Stafford said.
Asked whether he has football left in him, he said, “Sure feels like it.”
Stafford, 36, has two years remaining on his contract, one he and the Rams worked to adjust heading into training camp this season. Rams coach Sean McVay declined to answer a postgame question Sunday about Stafford’s future, saying, “I’m not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year.”
“Right now, I’m just appreciative of this team,” McVay said.
McVay spoke emotionally at the podium, discussing his love for this Rams team that went from 1-4 heading into its bye week before winning nine of its next 11 games to take the NFC West.
The longtime coach said the loss to the Eagles — in which the Rams trailed by 13 points with four minutes, 47 seconds remaining before coming back to within six and in scoring position at the end of the game — “epitomized the resilience, the grit, the ability to overcome adversity” of the team this season.
As he spoke, McVay said he was “pretty shocked” because he and everyone in the locker room “didn’t see it going any other way than us winning that game 29-28.”
“Everybody in this locker room, we believe in [Stafford] with every inch of our being,” wide receiver Puka Nacua said. “It’s a great feeling going out there and knowing that your quarterback is willing to put it all on the line and he’s capable of making plays anytime it’s asked of him. We have all trust in No. 9.”
Stafford completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions. He fumbled twice, losing one in the fourth quarter. Stafford has 15 passing touchdowns in the playoffs for the Rams, tying Kurt Warner for the most in team history, according to ESPN Research.
The Rams had a chance to score and kick an extra point to take the lead, with a first down at the Philadelphia 21 at one minute, 19 seconds left on the clock. After a false start, a 10-yard completion and a sack for a loss of 9 yards on third down, Stafford’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
“We had every opportunity to be able to win that game at the end there,” McVay said. “And we’re a couple plays away from me being a lot happier right now. … I’m happy to be a part of this team and proud of this group. And I’m really bummed out that this journey is over.”
Stafford was playing through a rib injury Sunday, one he said he had been dealing with “to a varying degree for some time” but that he aggravated early in the game. He said he “was able to kind of calm it down” and “didn’t feel like it was much of a factor” in the game.
“He got his rib early,” McVay said. “He got dinged up. But he is a warrior. He’s so tough. He represents so many things that are right about what this team became, especially for a city that’s hurting and going through some different stuff.
“I think he epitomizes a lot of the stuff that’s right at him in terms of toughness, resilience, ability to overcome adversity. He’s a total freaking stud. And I thought he was outstanding tonight with the opportunities that he was given. … I’m sure damn proud of Matthew Stafford.”
And though Stafford said he hasn’t made any decisions about his future, when recounting the end of the game, he spoke about the next time he was on the field.
“Had a chance for it and didn’t get it done,” Stafford said. “But I love competing. I love being in those moments. Sure as hell not afraid of them. And competed my ass off and it didn’t go the way I wanted to today. Next time I’m out there, line it up. Let’s do it again.”
