WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Coming off a two-game skid that dropped the Rams from the No. 1 to the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture, Los Angeles is trying to put their foot back on the gas one week before the postseason begins. Despite clinching a playoff spot, head coach Sean McVay is choosing to play the starters in a Week 18 game against the Cardinals in an effort to get the team back on track.
Ahead of the matchup, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford spoke with the media about moving forward ahead of the playoffs. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"I love this team, I love these guys, I have expectations which I won't apologize for. And I think you're always trying to strike the right balance (with messaging). What I am always going to try to be is authentic and honest, but also make sure you bring it back and say, 'Okay, how do we move forward?'" - McVay
McVay was "emotional" and "disappointed" when he spoke to the team after their loss to the Falcons on Monday, and he made it clear that they didn't play up to the standard. Still, he was proud of the team for clawing back from a 24-3 deficit in the second half to make it competitive in the late stages, even though there are things that need to be cleaned up.
McVay also talked about how "knowledgeable" Stafford is, not just about football, but about a whole host of subjects. From memorizing play calls to random facts about completely unrelated things, McVay said that he feels like a "dumbass compared to him." He also discussed various injury updates ahead of the Week 18 game against the Cardinals.
Arizona's biggest threat on offense is tight end Trey McBride, who McVay called a "great competitor" who is willing to do so without the football as a blocker as well as a receiver. He praised McBride's ability after the catch as well as his versatile route tree.
"I think (this is my best season) probably, it's up there. I think statistically, probably, I don't know, I haven't looked at all the other ones, but it's up there with some of the better ones I've played. But the cool thing about that is just because I have such a great group around me. I mean, you guys see me play, I can't go out there and scramble around and hold the ball for 10 seconds and then go on a 30-yard run. I've got great teammates, I try to do my best to get the best out of those guys." - Stafford
Despite this being among the best seasons of Stafford's career, the MVP talk is far from his mind. "People are gonna vote how they're gonna vote, they're gonna say what they wanna say," Stafford said. "I'm just trying to put as good of a season together as I can, and our last opportunity to do that is coming up this weekend." At least, the last opportunity in the regular season.
Stafford has also quarterbacked some of the best wide receiver seasons of all time, labeling him as a "receiver-friendly" quarterback. But does Stafford see it that way? "I don't know, I've never caught a pass from me," he said with a laugh, "but I'll take it as a compliment." What he does try to do is protect his receivers and get them as open as possible with his ball placement.
One of his longest tenured Rams pass catchers returned to practice on Wednesday in tight end Tyler Higbee. Stafford called him "an ultimate team player" who brings great energy and playmaking abilities. "Everybody calls him a glue guy," he said, "probably an understatement."
