So Matthew Stafford can’t win a playoff game, eh?

When the LA Rams gave up starting quarterback Jared Goff,  a 2021 third-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 first-round pick for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, there were plenty of concerns about trading for a quarterback who was 0-3 in the NFL Playoffs. Were those concerns warranted? I suppose it depends upon who you talk to.

Clearly, the LA Rams will hear nothing of the sort.  The LA Rams, holders of a 12-5 regular-season record, are now 2-0 in the NFL Playoffs. Those wins are thanks to the gutsy play of Stafford. In two playoff games, against two of the NFL’s toughest defenses, he has thrown for 41 of 55, for 568 yards, and four touchdowns. That is good enough for a 74.5 percent completion accuracy, a spot that is pretty good for a guy who doesn’t win in the postseason.

In fact, if not for Matthew Stafford’s heroics in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Rams may have been denied after putting up a 24 point lead. But the Rams needed just 42 seconds to move the football to field goal range. After a sack on first down, Stafford wound up and found Cooper Kupp near the sideline for a 20-yard play. On the next play, the Rams sent Kupp down the middle of the field for a huge completion of 44 yards. As precious seconds ticked off the clock, Stafford maintained his composure, set the offense, and spiked the ball.

The LA Rams sent out placekicker Matt Gay to boot the game-winner as regulation time expired.

The Rams have now won two consecutive playoff games. they’ve done so while rushing 68 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns in two games. While not a dominating rushing attack, it has been enough to keep the defense honest, and that is all Stafford needs to complete passes.

We will have a host of storylines and subplots leading up to the NFC Championship Game. But I think it’s safe to call off the “he can’t win in post-season” false narrative. Matthew Stafford has played with poise and has never felt like the game was bigger than he could handle.

The LA Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Wouldn’t that be the perfect setting for the Rams to finally end the Niners’ winning streak over the team?