The Los Angeles Rams looked vulnerable late against the Carolina Panthers, but Matthew Stafford never showed it.
While the game tightened and momentum briefly swung away from Los Angeles, the veteran quarterback maintained control and delivered a defining moment that ultimately decided the outcome.
Matthew Stafford has the best pregame routine in the NFL
Carolina appeared to seize the night after blocking a punt and quickly capitalising. Bryce Young led a short drive and found Jalen Coker for a seven yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining, pushing the Panthers in front and putting pressure squarely on the Rams.
That pressure never reached Stafford. As the offense gathered for its final possession, the quarterback shared a brief message that left a lasting impression on Davante Adams.
“He said, ‘Let’s go snatch these guys’ hearts.’ That was pretty cold just to hear that,” Adams revealed, according to FOX Sports: NFL.
“And I actually literally smiled in the moment, because I thought that was like one of the most gangster things you could say in that moment, honestly.”
There was no shouting, no emotional rallying cry. Stafford‘s words were calm, direct, and focused on finishing the job.
For Adams, it perfectly captured the mindset of a quarterback who thrives in critical situations.
A defining drive and MVP praise
Stafford backed up the message with action. He guided the Rams down the field on a seven play, 71 yard drive, reading the defense and spreading the ball with confidence.
The sequence ended with a 19 yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with just 38 seconds left, restoring the lead and effectively ending Carolina’s hopes.
Afterward, Stafford downplayed the moment, framing it as familiar territory.
“That’s a situation that I’ve been in a bunch of times in my life,” Stafford said.
“I was just going to go out there and try to execute and give guys a chance to make plays. They made some great ones.”
Statistically, it was another strong night. Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns, bouncing back from a quieter stretch earlier in the game.
Head coach Sean McVay was quick to recognise what he had witnessed.
“It was MVP-type of stuff that he did,” McVay said.
“I thought he saw the field really well, and that’s why we’re advancing because of his leadership.”
McVay acknowledged the Rams were far from flawless.
“We made a lot of mistakes in this game, and there are a lot of things that we have to clean up,” he said.
Still, when everything felt unstable, Stafford provided clarity.
“That’s on me. But I will say that when we needed it the most, we found a way to be at our best,” McVay added.
“Matthew orchestrated an unbelievable drive after the blocked punt. Matthew trusted his guys, and they came through.”
In the end, it was not noise or emotion that carried the Rams. It was control, experience, and one cold sentence that set the tone for victory.
