Oh, halfway there, and Matthew Stafford and Rams are living on a prayer

The 12-win Los Angeles Rams struggled to a 5-4 road record this season. But this is a team that faced plenty of postseason teams. On the road, the Rams faced the playoff-bound Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers. Of the four teams, Los Angeles was just 1-3.

That's all changed now. The road warrior Rams are 2-0 as a wild-card team so far, having beaten the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Now, the team is back on the road to avenge another road loss. This time, its sights are set on the Seahawks.

NFL fans love to see their respective teams demolish the competition. But TV producers love what Los Angeles is doing so far. The Yellow and Blue are squeaking by opponents by the thinnest of margins. In two games, LA has mustered only mustered six more points than its competition. While one point can win a game, the final scores have certainly kept fans on the edge of their seats.

In many ways, the Horns are living on a prayer in the playoffs.

Matthew Stafford's legacy is on the line

While the drama is great for dramatic effect and ratings, the toll taken by each game going down to the wire is taking a toll. One player who doesn't need the extra wear and tear on his body is veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. But it's taken all of his comeback mojo to keep the LA Rams on track to advance to the next round.

Before arriving at the Horns, Stafford was a dismal 0-3 record in three playoff appearances with the Detroit Lions. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has fared much better. So far, he is 7-2 in postseason competition with one Super Bowl ring. He'd like to get a second.

And there it is. Before 2025, Stafford seemed to be a quarterback who was in the NFL Hall of Fame discussion, but whose legacy would not be enough to enshrine him alongside his peers. But 2025 may change that. He is putting up HOF numbers, and with a second Super Bowl victory, it would be embarrassing for the NFL not to induct him.

Still, he needs to get a second Lombardi and the NFL MVP to lock in those honors.

This is the year that never should have happened for Stafford. He opened the offseason to a difficult contract dispute. Then, he sat out training camp with a back injury. It was the exact opposite of what the team hoped for in the offseason and training camp. And yet, here we are, two victories away from winning Super Bowl LX.

And the 37-year-old quarterback is still putting up incredible numbers.

The Los Angeles Rams got to the playoffs in 2023. In 2024, the team advanced to the divisional round. This year, the team has advanced to the NFC Championship Game. So whatever the outcome, this team has plenty to be proud of.

But this is about more than a season. For the former Georgia quarterback, this is about a football legacy. You can bet every coach and player is award of that as well. The job's not done yet. But this team is getting there.

As always, thanks for reading.