Stafford re: Ford Field for Wild Card Round: "I know it's going to be rocking there"

Matthew Stafford never had the opportunity to play at Ford Field for the Detroit Lions in the NFL Playoffs before. Ironically, he will have that chance in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs. The irony? He will be the starting quarterback for the visiting team, the LA Rams.

I've heard it said that you can never go back. Perhaps that is true for LA Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. After all is said and done, Stafford played in three playoff games for the Detroit Lions and lost each game. To be fair, each playoff game for the Lions was as a wild card team that had to compete on the road. In 2011, the Lions were 10-6 but lost to the New Orleans Saints. In 2014. the Lions were 11-5 but lost to the Dallas Cowboys. And in 2016, the Lions were 9-7 but lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

He rectified the postseason paradox in 2022, when he led the LA Rams on a 4-0 postseason winning streak that culminated with a victory in Super Bowl LVI. Just for the record, Matthew Stafford had never won a playoff game with the Detroit Lions. On the flip side of the coin, Stafford has never lost a playoff game with the LA Rams.

Let's hope that his winning streak in postseason games continues this weekend.

But even as he struggles with the complexities and emotional torque of facing his former team, we do know that he can tune out everything but the matter at hand. Right now, the matter at hand is to win at Ford Field, the home field of the Detroit Lions.

Focusing on the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs is not an easy matter for Stafford. Not only will he return to play in Ford Field, but he knows first hand just how excited Lions fans will be to host a playoff game.

How is Stafford handling the chance to face his former team with a win or go home scenario?

"Excited for this team just to get where we are right now, to be honest with you. So many people out there, you know, (who) did not think we would get to this point. And the ability to get to get to this point is a true testament to everybody in this locker room: Coaches, everybody. It is awesome. The opportunity happens to be in Detroit, which is fun for me on a personal level. We have some other guys on our team (who) are from the city too, which is really cool. I know it is going to be rocking there. You know, have not had a playoff game there in about 30 years or whatever it is, so it will be a great atmosphere. It will be a tough task for us, but I am definitely excited."

- Matthew Stafford

Of course, this is not solely a Matthew Stafford homecoming. Kelly Stafford, Matthew's wife, has already posted a video on her Instagram account about Matthew Stafford's football career before and during his time with the Detroit Lions:

Worried about Matthew Stafford in this one? Don't be. He is ultra competitive, and the chance to showcase his proficiency at throwing the football one more time for the fans in the stands in Detroit, Michigan is about as well written of an NFL script as they come.

Matthew Stafford never played a playoff game at Ford Field before this Sunday. And Stafford has never lost a playoff game with the LA Rams. Stay tuned, because the LA Rams may make some noise in the postseason.