Ex-Lions QB Matthew Stafford Gets Bad News After Championship Loss
Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams put together an impressive 2025 campaign that carried them all the way to the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 26, against the Seattle Seahawks. The matchup delivered all the intensity expected of a conference title game, ending in a narrow 31–27 loss for Los Angeles.
Despite the heartbreak, the defeat doesn’t diminish what was a remarkable season for Stafford. According to NFL research, he led the league with 4,707 passing yards and threw 46 touchdown passes during the 2025 regular season. He also guided the Rams to a 12–5 record while limiting mistakes, tossing just eight interceptions across 17 games.
After the loss, Stafford reflected on how close the contest truly was.
“It was a battle the whole game,” Stafford said. “There wasn’t just one moment that decided it. There are a million plays in a football game that can swing things, and we had our chances but didn’t capitalize.”
He also showed leadership and empathy when discussing a costly muffed punt by a teammate.
“I told him I love him, and I meant it,” Stafford said. “He’s someone who gives everything to make every play. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. I’ve been there. It doesn’t change how I feel about him as a person or a player. I trust him and wish him nothing but the best.”
Stafford Still in the MVP Conversation
While Stafford didn’t add another Super Bowl ring to his résumé this season, he has been nominated for the 2025–26 NFL MVP award — a nod many believe is well deserved given his production and consistency.
Following the Rams’ playoff exit, Stafford slipped slightly in MVP betting odds, but he remains firmly in the mix. According to RotoWire, he still sits just ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, though the outlet believes Maye should ultimately win the award. Vegas Insider also lists Stafford narrowly above Maye in the MVP race.
Super Bowl MVP Outlook
With the Seahawks advancing, quarterback Sam Darnold has emerged as the frontrunner for Super Bowl MVP honors. The Big Lead reported that Darnold surged to the top of the odds after his dominant performance in the NFC Championship Game.
“The narrative and the numbers all point to Darnold,” the outlet wrote. “After a 346-yard, three-touchdown performance in the conference title game, he’s playing the best football of his career at exactly the right time. If Seattle wins it all, it will likely be because Darnold led the way.”
Drake Maye currently sits second in Super Bowl MVP odds. As noted in the same report, his dual-threat ability could sway voters if New England pulls off an upset, especially after his impact performance in the AFC Championship Game.
Even with the Rams’ season coming to an end, Stafford’s elite play has ensured he remains central to the league’s biggest individual award discussions.
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