Matthew Stafford Says ‘Playing for People Back Home’ Motivated Rams in Win Over Vikings

Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 28, 2024. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams players’ donning apparel showing support for the Los Angeles Fire Department on the sideline of Monday’s Wild Card win in Arizona wasn’t just a turf show.

It was the Rams’ motivation in a 27–9 win over the Minnesota Vikings at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game moved away from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Rams players and coaches alike had to deal with the reality in their community in addition to being relocated on short notice. The NFL made the decision on Jan. 9 to move the game due to air quality.

“There was definitely every excuse in the book to come out here and be lethargic and ‘woe is me and all that,’ but we knew we weren’t playing just for us,” Stafford told reporters afterward. “Playing for people back home that needed something to watch and enjoy and I’m glad we could give that to them.”

The Rams delivered from the outset with an opening drive touchdown from Stafford to running back Kyren Williams. After building a 10–0 lead, the Rams delivered more blows when a potential Stafford fumble got ruled as an incomplete pass instead. Los Angeles scored twice to build a 24–3 halftime lead.

Stafford said he attempted a shovel pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua. The referees overturned a Vikings’ scoop and score touchdown, and the Rams ironically later took advantage of a fumble and scored on Rams linebacker Jared Verse’s return.

“I was gonna be hurt in a bad way if they tried to say that wasn’t a shovel pass,” Stafford said. “I mean, that’s exactly what I was trying to do, and trying to plead my case. I’m glad that they looked at it and understood that’s what I was doing.”

Los Angeles outplayed the Vikings in every way on Monday. Stafford threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, Williams rushed for 76 yards, and the Rams’ defense tallied nine sacks with defensive tackle Kobie Turner leading the way at two.

Despite the neutral site and ongoing tragedy in Los Angeles, the Rams had tens of thousands of fans in attendance amid the crowd of 64,515. Kupp gave Rams fans something to roar about in the third quarter when he caught a 29-yard pass from Stafford and landed on his back, which set up a 44-yard field goal by kicker Joshua Karty for a 27–3 lead.

“You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together, offer a little bit of temporary relief, and I thought the way that our team competed tonight was what it looked like,” Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters afterward.