Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will play in his eighth career playoff game as his team travels to Ford Field to face his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round matchup.
How has Stafford fared in the playoffs throughout his career?
Matthew Stafford’s Playoff Record
Stafford played 12 seasons for the Lions before he was traded to the Rams, for whom he’s played for three seasons. Although Stafford put up better numbers while with the Lions, he has found more playoff success playing with the Rams.
While with the Lions, Stafford went 0-3 in the postseason.
On Jan. 7, 2012, the Lions fell to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round 45-28. Stafford played well and threw for 380 yards and three TDs. His go-to wide receiver Calvin Johnson brought in 12 catches, 211 yards, and two TDs. The Lions led 7-0 early, but after that, the Saints’ offense kept on rolling to a playoff-record 626 yards.
Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 466 yards and two TDs. The Saints also rushed for 167 yards and three more TDs.
On Jan. 4, 2015, the team returned to the Wild Card Round and fell to the Dallas Cowboys 24-20. Detroit led 20-7 in Dallas midway through the third quarter, but Tony Romo completed the 17-point comeback late in the fourth quarter.
The Lions had a hot start, with Stafford leading two TD drives in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. Stafford ended up having a rough game with an interception and two lost fumbles, but he still threw for 323 yards and a TD.
In his final playoff appearance with the Lions, the team lost to the Seattle Seahawks 26-6. Stafford struggled, throwing for only 205 yards, and he was sacked twice as the Lions couldn’t manage a TD against the Seahawks’ defense.
Stafford was traded to the Rams in 2021, where he and the team went on a Super Bowl-winning run. His four wins in the postseason with the Rams make his all-time playoff record 4-3.
The run started with a 34-11 win over the Arizona Cardinals where Stafford completed 13 of 17 passes for 202 yards and TDs to Odell Beckham Jr. and Cooper Kupp.
The following week, the Rams narrowly took down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27. The Rams took a commanding 27-3 lead halfway through the third quarter, and Stafford threw for 366 yards and two TDs.
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Tom Brady led a comeback that tied the game with 42 seconds left, but Stafford hit Kupp for 20- and 44-yard gains on consecutive plays to set up the game-winning field goal.
The Rams went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in another close matchup 20-17. Los Angeles fell behind 17-7 going into the fourth quarter at home in the NFC Championship Game.
Stafford rallied back and put up 337 passing yards and two TDs, including an 11-yard scoring strike to Kupp.
On Feb. 13, 2022, in the Super Bowl, Stafford had a shaky performance but was still able to lead his team to a win. Stafford threw for 283 yards and three TDs but also posted two interceptions.
The Rams were down 20-16 with 6:13 left, but Stafford put together a comeback that led to the win. He found Kupp from a yard out for the game-winning score.
After missing the playoffs last season, Stafford will have the chance to lead his team on another run, starting with a matchup against the Lions on Sunday night.
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