Love Stafford...but no heart on that 4th down

[GoldenRam]

Bottom post of the previous page:

93.8 passer rating for the game

304 yards

3Tds 1 pick

And a 57.1 comp percentage

I’ll take those numbers and a W 3 more times this postseason

Qbr is probably much lower than 94. I think he was off anddidn't play well. Like I said, I expect more. Can't turn the ball over in the playoffs.

QBR is always lower .. and a mathematics degree away from understanding

[GoldenRam]

I don't see any way in Hells Half Acre Stafford was running for that first down short of breathing a cloud of smoke to hide himself as he ran

[VA!Rams28]

He could have easily ran the 2 yards for the first down!!
This is the playoffs and you're making $45 million a year, leave everything on the field!!

Man, we have the league MVP playing for us. Please….

[ocram23]

some of you guys are crazy. At least 20+ teams would love to have Stafford as their starting QB....just sayin

[LA RAMSGUY 78]

It wasn't the player .... it was the play call. Blew a potential 20-7 lead at halftime with a second half receive.
Take the points....stop the Panthers....go into halftime up 20-7. In theory makes sense, right?
They're advancing to the next round , but the "talking heads" are not giving them much of a chance... no matter who the opponent is.

[Cornell29]

I was wrong. After looking at the play, he had no shot at run ung for the 1st. With that said he should have ran toward the sidelines a little longer, to get the db to take a few steps toward him, to give him room to throw over the defender to the receiver.

[Cornell29]

It wasn't the player .... it was the play call. Blew a potential 20-7 lead at halftime with a second half receive.
Take the points....stop the Panthers....go into halftime up 20-7. In theory makes sense, right?
They're advancing to the next round , but the "talking heads" are not giving them much of a chance... no matter who the opponent is.

Talking heads don't matter. They didn't give Carolina much of a chance before the game, and the game was close. Rams are going to the 2nd week of playoffs, and they are talented enough to win again. They just need to execute. Which they didn't do a few times today. Something as simple as Puka not dropping the td, could have made this a double digit win. I used the Puka example bc that was rare. I seriously doubt that happens again next week. The talent to win is there, just need to execute.

[LARAMFAN52]

Who gives a flying f&$@ what the talking heads say about anything

The Rams can beat any team in the playoffs,anywhere

[GSOT89]

Rams should have won something like 44-23 if they played properly. Missed Puka TD, not going for the FG is 10 points left on the field, should have held Carolina to a FG at the end of the half and the blocked punt gave them an ez 7 which if we punted it, maybe we hold them to 0 or 3

[FelixTheStonerCat]

I won't hesitate to call Old Man Staffie trash when he plays like it. Too many people on here act like the police, I swear.

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Who gives a flying f&$@ what the talking heads say about anything

The Rams can beat any team in the playoffs,anywhere

Not with that secondary.

[bigklein]

I was wrong. After looking at the play, he had no shot at run ung for the 1st. With that said he should have ran toward the sidelines a little longer, to get the db to take a few steps toward him, to give him room to throw over the defender to the receiver.

It definitely looked like he had the time and space to create a better throwing opportunity or try a Josh Allen fake throw to create more of a running cushion. Not going for that field goal and “snatching” the points after the muffed punt gift really shifted the game's rhythm and momentum. Luckily they eventually overcame that, some dropped passes, the weak interception, the near Nick Scott interception, and the blocked punt.

[Jacksnow]

Stafford had a 57.1 % completion rate today.

From the get go something was off with passing game.

[Jacksnow]

Who gives a flying f&$@ what the talking heads say about anything

The Rams can beat any team in the playoffs,anywhere

Not with that secondary.

Eagles?

[49RH8R]

8 for 9 on the last drive with a 149 QB rating. He is ice when it counts.

I can't believe what I'm reading in here.

[Bulldawg]

8 for 9 on the last drive with a 149 QB rating. He is ice when it counts.

I can't believe what I'm reading in here.

In regards to my post, or people calling our QB and coach trash? ;-)

[49RH8R]

I can't believe what I'm reading in here.

In regards to my post, or people calling our QB and coach trash? ;-)

People criticising Stafford, especially for not having heart. Our HOF QB just flipped the switch and drove the Rams down the field for a beautiful game winning TD with 38 seconds left........on the road in the playoffs down by 4. He shook off his injured throwing hand and won this game. There is only 1 Matthew Stafford. Not many of the 32 QB's in the NFL win that game.

[Rampager66]

Stafford had a 57.1 % completion rate today.

From the get go something was off with passing game.

Really? Stafford completed his 1st 8 passes for 114 Yards and a TD and the Rams were up 14-0 after both teams had 2 Possessions!
He passed to Puka on the 2nd Rams TD but it was ruled a rushing TD because the pass went backwards. Would've been 9 in a row and a 2nd TD pass.

[Bruce77]

It wasn't the player .... it was the play call. Blew a potential 20-7 lead at halftime with a second half receive.
Take the points....stop the Panthers....go into halftime up 20-7. In theory makes sense, right?
They're advancing to the next round , but the "talking heads" are not giving them much of a chance... no matter who the opponent is.

Old McVay had no balls, remember we complained. Now we go for 4ths more then any other team and we still complain. I liked the call, momentum was on our side, stomp them.
No matter how you get to the SB there is always that one game that a team has to overcome.. maybe yesterday was ours. LFGOOOO

[brasilrams]

From the get go something was off with passing game.

Really? Stafford completed his 1st 8 passes for 114 Yards and a TD and the Rams were up 14-0 after both teams had 2 Possessions!
He passed to Puka on the 2nd Rams TD but it was ruled a rushing TD because the pass went backwards. Would've been 9 in a row and a 2nd TD pass.

This game was very on-and-off for him. He started really well, then went cold for a long stretch — actually the longest of his career. Stafford went something like eight straight passes without a completion, which was also a career high.

Then, of course, he was clutch on the final drive. On/off… on/off… on/off. That’s pretty much how he’s been since that Seattle game.

I honestly can’t remember the last time he played well for a full four quarters. And by ‘well,’ I don’t mean perfect — I mean no interceptions, no long stretches without completions, and no ‘what the hell was he thinking?’ type of throws.

I like Stafford a lot. I still think the positives outweigh the negatives, and I want him back next year. But I also think it’s time for the Rams to start preparing for the next QB — probably around 2027.

[Henry VIII]

In regards to my post, or people calling our QB and coach trash? ;-)

People criticising Stafford, especially for not having heart. Our HOF QB just flipped the switch and drove the Rams down the field for a beautiful game winning TD with 38 seconds left........on the road in the playoffs down by 4. He shook off his injured throwing hand and won this game. There is only 1 Matthew Stafford. Not many of the 32 QB's in the NFL win that game.

It's always the same crew who completely melt down..they fly off the handle and spew crap like a 7 year old with temper tantrum. Then they come back in like normal after posting comments that an adult with an IQ above room temperature would be ashamed of. I get it everyone gets heated and frustrated me too..but really you can't control your emotions like a adult?..I seriously wonder how do these people function out in the real world?..they act like a bunch of doped up drunks.

[DelMar]

[LARAMFAN52]

Who gives a flying f&$@ what the talking heads say about anything

The Rams can beat any team in the playoffs,anywhere

Not with that secondary.

They beat the Seahawks with that secondary,as well as the 49ers,Lions,Jaguars,Texans,Ravens,Coltshad the Super Bowl Champs beat but for a blocked FG,had the niners swept but for another few fluke plays

Yea,they can beat any team in the league WITH that secondary,sorry.

[Slickjack]

Stafford was not as his best yesterday but we are all to quick to point out his flaws because its rare when he makes a huge mistake like that.

[Cornell29]

Not with that secondary.

They beat the Seahawks with that secondary,as well as the 49ers,Lions,Jaguars,Texans,Ravens,Coltshad the Super Bowl Champs beat but for a blocked FG,had the niners swept but for another few fluke plays

Yea,they can beat any team in the league WITH that secondary,sorry.

Would have beat a few more good teams with this secondary if Special Teams wasn't equally as horrible.

[brasilrams]

There are 2 secondaries. One that played from weeks 1-12 and the one after that. That first secondary could beat a bunch of teams, this one now? Not so sure.... Like I said, I think we can only win games now if the offense is on fire and we win a shootout ( like yesterday) because this defense/ secondary is not holding anyone under 30-32 points. I hope I am wrong but I can see all the remaining qbs torching then for at least 32 points. So, staff and offense needs to put 35 on the board at least. The good news is that most of the time, they can. Of course this is not a sustainable approach but it is what we have for now.

[Ramsfan08ny]

In all reality, this thread should have been stopped right at the title of it. Tell me a QB in the entire league who plays with more heart than Stafford.

Pitiful take as far as I'm concerned.

[brasilrams]

In all reality, this thread should have been stopped right at the title of it. Tell me a QB in the entire league who plays with more heart than Stafford.

Pitiful take as far as I'm concerned.

I usually agree with SoCal’s takes, but on this one I think he’s mistaken — and it’s understandable why.

The issue with Stafford has nothing to do with heart or toughness. If there’s one thing he’s never lacked, it’s guts. This is a guy who has played with a broken shoulder, played hurt countless times, taken brutal hits that would have kept most players on the ground — and he always gets back up and keeps going. He’s as tough as they come.

The real issue is his mindset. Stafford is always looking to pass. Passing is always his first option. Running doesn’t even seem to cross his mind. He’s so conditioned to scan the field and look for a throw that he never considers taking off, even when there’s an easy lane and free yards available.

A lot of times, there are simple, effective runs right there for him — plays he could easily convert — but he never takes them. He forces a throw instead.

So this isn’t about lack of heart. It’s about habit, lack of practice, or simply not wiring his brain to see running as a viable first option. For Stafford, passing is always option number one. And because of that, he often doesn’t even recognize the opportunity to run when it’s there.

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Not with that secondary.

They beat the Seahawks with that secondary,as well as the 49ers,Lions,Jaguars,Texans,Ravens,Coltshad the Super Bowl Champs beat but for a blocked FG,had the niners swept but for another few fluke plays

Yea,they can beat any team in the league WITH that secondary,sorry.

Don't agree. Is this where you start crying and talk shit about me? You know you want to. Y'all can't disagree with me without mentioning something about me. Y'all never can.

[RAMFAN71]

I like having Stafford on the Rams. He may not win em all, but he always brings it.

[Henry VIII]

In all reality, this thread should have been stopped right at the title of it. Tell me a QB in the entire league who plays with more heart than Stafford.

Pitiful take as far as I'm concerned.

I usually agree with SoCal’s takes, but on this one I think he’s mistaken — and it’s understandable why.

The issue with Stafford has nothing to do with heart or toughness. If there’s one thing he’s never lacked, it’s guts. This is a guy who has played with a broken shoulder, played hurt countless times, taken brutal hits that would have kept most players on the ground — and he always gets back up and keeps going. He’s as tough as they come.

The real issue is his mindset. Stafford is always looking to pass. Passing is always his first option. Running doesn’t even seem to cross his mind. He’s so conditioned to scan the field and look for a throw that he never considers taking off, even when there’s an easy lane and free yards available.

A lot of times, there are simple, effective runs right there for him — plays he could easily convert — but he never takes them. He forces a throw instead.

So this isn’t about lack of heart. It’s about habit, lack of practice, or simply not wiring his brain to see running as a viable first option. For Stafford, passing is always option number one. And because of that, he often doesn’t even recognize the opportunity to run when it’s there.

Running should never be a "viable first option" for a 40 year old QB who isn't mobile..his brain and arm are what we pay him to use. Passing should always be his first option..Should he sneak in a run and slide? Yes only as a last resort..or maybe when there’s a wide open field in front of him..but only then when nothing else is available..Stafford's game is from the waist up..scrambling is not something the Front Office wants to see much of.