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Freed from Detroit last offseason, the 33-year-old quarterback's
first season with the Los Angeles Rams will conclude in the
Super Bowl.
Stafford's desire to play for a winning team reached new heights
on Sunday night as Matt Gay's 30-yard field goal with 1:46
remaining gave Los Angeles a 20-17 victory over the San
Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Inglewood,
Calif.
It will be the Rams' second Super Bowl appearance in four
seasons, with the first in that span coming with Jared Goff at
quarterback. Goff was dealt to the Lions in the deal for
Stafford.
"You can't write this story any better," Stafford said
afterward. "I'm at a loss for words. I'm just having a blast
playing ball with these guys and, shoot, we have one more at the
home stadium."
That's true. Los Angeles will face the Cincinnati Bengals in the
Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The
Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game
earlier Sunday.
The Super Bowl appearance will be the fifth in franchise history
for the Rams -- two coming when the franchise was located in St.
Louis. Los Angeles lost 13-3 to the New England Patriots in the
2018 season Super Bowl.
Coach Sean McVay made it known the return trip wasn't because of
him.
"The players pulled it off," McVay said. "I love this group. We
got one more ... I'm so proud of these players."
Stafford completed 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards, two touchdowns
and one interception.
"I have the opportunity to be in a game that I've always wanted
to play in," Stafford said of the Super Bowl.
Travin Howard recorded the game-clinching interception with 1:09
left as Los Angeles snapped a six-game losing streak against the
49ers. Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two
touchdowns.
Jimmy Garoppolo completed 16 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two
touchdowns for San Francisco, which blew a 10-point lead in the
fourth quarter. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle caught scoring
passes, and Jimmie Ward had an interception.
"Losing in the Super Bowl probably (stinks) a little bit more,"
Kittle said, referring to the 49ers' 31-20 loss to the Kansas
City Chiefs two seasons ago. "I haven't had a chance to process
this one yet. But I will.
"Football is a game of the highest of highs and the lowest of
lows."
Gay's game-winning boot was set up by Stafford's 25-yard
completion to Kupp to the 49ers' 12-yard line.
After the score, San Francisco couldn't move the ball, and Aaron
Donald's pressure forced Garoppolo to make a desperate
underhanded toss that Howard picked off to seal the victory.
Odell Beckham Jr. caught nine passes for 113 yards for Los
Angeles, which outgained the 49ers in total yards 396 to 282 and
had big edges in offensive plays (76 to 50) and first downs (25
to 16).
The 49ers led 17-7 after Garoppolo spotted a wide-open Kittle in
the end zone and connected on a 16-yard scoring pass with 1:59
remaining in the third quarter.
Los Angeles responded with Stafford tossing an 11-yard scoring
pass to Kupp to cut the deficit to three with 13:30 left in the
game.
The 49ers had a chance to deflate the Rams' comeback with just
under 10 minutes left but safety Jaquiski Tartt dropped a sure
interception.
"No excuses!! I deserve all the criticism my way!," Tartt said
on his Twitter account. "Opportunity I dream of I came up
short!!! Let my brothers down!! It Still won't define me as a
person/player. Only will get stronger and better... #Believdat"
The Rams capitalized by tying the score at 17 when Gay booted a
40-yard field goal with 6:49 left.
San Francisco led 10-7 at halftime courtesy of Robbie Gould's
38-yard field goal as time expired. Gould has converted 21 of 21
field goals in the postseason during his career.
The Rams struck first when Stafford hit Kupp for a 16-yard
touchdown on third-and-13 with 8:46 left in the half. The score
capped an 18-play, 97-yard drive that took 9:33 off the clock.
The 49ers knotted the score when Samuel caught a receiver screen
from Garoppolo and shed four tackles along the way to a 44-yard
touchdown with 6:10 remaining in the half.
--Field Level Media
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