WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – For most players, entering the upcoming regular season healthy is an obvious, understood goal.
Given the amount of time that Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford missed in training camp and the preseason because of a back issue, though, it was anything but.
"Make it to Week 1," Stafford jokingly, or perhaps half-jokingly, said postgame, quickly making a sign of the cross as he smiled and drew laughter from assembled media. "We just held on for dear life."
Stafford not only made it to the opener, he started 17 regular season games, authoring an MVP-caliber performance in the process that helped the Rams get to the playoffs, which for Los Angeles begins Saturday at Carolina (1:30 p.m. PT, FOX).
"That's kind of where I was to be honest with you," Stafford said. "There was some touch-and-go moments, and like I said earlier, so many people that have helped me continue to play throughout the season, got me ready to play for Week 1, and people that go unnoticed by media and all that kind of stuff, people behind closed doors. So I appreciate that, a lot of those guys and my family and everybody that supported me throughout the season. So just happy to be where I am right now and moving forward with this team."
Speaking further about it during his weekly press conference Tuesday, Stafford said there were "some lean moments," reiterating the touch-and-go nature of figuring out his return. That process included lots of conversations with head coach Sean McVay and senior vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott's group, as well of lots of treatment and things he did on his own to get to this point.
He was originally scheduled to participate just in individual drills when he returned to practice on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, but wound up doing both individual and team – he said on Aug. 21 he did more than he expected to that first day back – and being a full participant that entire week.
"Didn't know if I would get there, but I went out there and it was kind of wait and see, let's see what happens," Stafford said Tuesday. "And luckily it turned out pretty good."
"I mean, it's touch-and-go. (We) didn't really know," McVay said. "We weren't getting some of the responses that we were hoping for, for the back. And you're sitting there, and you could see, almost kind of flipped the switch and made the decision. You're close to saying, 'All right, are we gonna just rest you and maybe you just take the first four weeks and then we revisit so that we don't have this imaginary timetable that causes unnecessary anxiety?' Then he goes out there and he was going to just do individual, and then next thing you know, he hasn't looked back."
A little over three months later, Stafford produced a league-leading 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns against only eight interceptions to help the Rams punch their ticket to the playoffs leading into Saturday's rematch against the Panthers.
That first meeting back in Week 13 was an uncharacteristic performance relative to that final stat line for Stafford. While he completed 18 of 28 pass attempts (64.2%) for 243 yards and two touchdowns, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in crucial moments in that contest. Carolina's defense will have cornerback Jaycee Horn back for this game after he missed Week 13 with a concussion.
Asked Tuesday about areas from that game they want to improve on, Stafford deadpanned: "I'd like not to throw it to their team."
"And I think that was the story of the game, when you think about it," Stafford said. "I mean, we moved the ball well in some areas, scored a couple in the red zone, did some nice things, ran it well, and just had the turnovers. And really, you look at their defense, that's what they've ben able to do to a lot of teams, whether it's getting a tip at the line of scrimmage and somebody making a play on it, or somebody in the back end making a play or stripping the ball. So they're an opportunistic group with a bunch of playmakers."
After all that he went through just to be ready for the season, Stafford is treating the playoff opener just like any other game – not taking the opportunity for granted, and ready to see where it takes the Rams this postseason.
"Whether it's getting to play in this weekend where only half the league's still playing football and enjoying those moments, or it's Week 1, I really do appreciate and love playing this game week in and week out, and I don't take them for granted," Stafford said. "Because I've had years where I either haven't been able to play in the playoffs or haven't been able to play in certain games because of injuries, so it feels great to be at this point. It's on us to just continue to be the team that we've been, prepare the way we know how to prepare, go out there and play, and then see where that takes us."
