Matthew Stafford Explains Why He Was 'Calm' During Rams' Game-Winning Drive vs. Panthers

Matthew Stafford said he felt "pretty calm" when the Los Angeles Rams got the ball while facing a three-point deficit in the final three minutes of the Saturday's Wild Card matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

Stafford ultimately led his team on a seven-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to clinch a 34-31 win and advance to the divisional round.

"I knew we had four downs left, obviously. That's a situation I've been in a bunch of times in my life, and I was just gonna go out and try to execute, give our guys chances to make plays," Stafford said in his postgame press conference. "They made some great ones."

The game-winning drive ended with a deep touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Colby Parkinson.

"It was pretty tight coverage. Thought I put the ball in a good spot, and he made a great play," Stafford said about Parkinson. "He was so confident he caught it. I was like, 'I don't know. Is he in? Did he catch it?'... Happy that he came down with it."

Stafford connected on six of seven pass attempts during the final drive, which he highlighted with an 18-yard dart to Puka Nacua and the 19-yard game-winner to Parkinson.

"I just felt like I was seeing the coverages really well," Stafford said. "Guys up front did a hell of a job keeping me clean on that last drive, too, giving me time to click through some progressions. I feel like, like I said, I've been in that spot a lot in my life. Brings a smile to my face, because I like being there."

Stafford concluded, "I love those situations. I live to do it. It's great to do it on the road, too, quiet a nice crowd today. So, we'll take it."

The Rams will have to wait for the rest of the NFC Wild Card round to wrap up before they learn who they'll be playing in the divisional round.

Either the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles or San Francisco 49ers will be waiting when the Rams try to make it past the divisional round for the first time since winning Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season.