Rams QB Matthew Stafford- Media Availability – October 24, 2021
Rams QB Matthew Stafford – Media Availability – October 24, 2021
(On if this was an emotionally strange game for him)
“It was a strange game for sure. I mean, you know, all the fakes and all the surprise onside (kicks), some possessions stolen there. You know, great plays by them. But, just kind of had a weird feel to it. Didn’t touch the ball too much in the first half but when we got our opportunities, we scored with it which was good. You know, it was a team win. Special teams came back and made a big play at the end of the game with Matt (Gay) making that field goal to really ice it. Jalen (Ramsey) making a great play late in the game to get us the pick. I thought we did some decent stuff on offense scoring with the football. So a team win. Detroit’s a tough out. Always has been, probably always will be. You know, just happy to get one.”
(On if it was emotional for him at all seeing old friends)
“No it was just good to see them. I just haven’t seen those guys in a while. I talk to them, you know, on text and all that kind of stuff. But just good to see their face, see those guys. Spent a lot of time with a lot of those people over there and have some really great relationships. So it was good to see those people again.”
(On if he saw Sheila (Ford))
“Yeah, I saw Sheila. Yeah, she was here. Her husband was here. So it was good to see. Martha (Ford) wasn’t. But got to see her, Rod Wood, all those people. So it was good to see them.”
(On the turnout of Lions fans wearing his jersey)
“It was humbling, it was really nice to see. Driving into this stadium today, I saw a few walking around and I thought to myself, ‘That was pretty cool.’ I really appreciate it. I’ve said it a bunch of times, and I truly mean it, I loved my time there. I love all the people there that treated me, my family, my wife, with a ton of respect and a ton of grace for a long time. So, it was cool to see that. Once the ball was snapped, it was football time. I was ready to go play. But it was cool to see some of the stuff going on around.”
(On if playing his former team inspired him to play at a high level today)
“No. I want to have a really good game every time I step out there so there was nothing extra, to be honest with you. I just wanted to do whatever we had to do to help us win. And that’s how I kind of approach it every single week. Each game is going to unfold a little bit different. Today was as strange of an opening, part of a game as I’ve been a part of. But I thought we were even keeled. I think that started from our head coach all the way down. Everybody did a great job in weathering the storm and knowing that if we went out there and executed what we were supposed to do, we were going to be in a good place and finally got the opportunities to do that and went and did it.”
(On the slow start)
“We scored 17 points on three possessions. We had two touchdowns and a field goal. So, I mean, that’s not perfect. I’d love to have 21, but I’ll take 17 on three possessions.”
(On how he’s been able to connect with his receivers and how it feels to be having this early success)
“I’m just happy for our guys on the outside. They work so hard. Our guys are running every day at practice, doing everything they can to be as good a receiver as they possibly can be and it shows on Sundays. I thought all of our guys on the outside did a great job. Higgs (Tyler Higbee) had a big catch on a third and ten. Robert Woods had some big catches on third down, had some great feel in there. Cooper (Kupp) did some great stuff. Van went up and played huge and made a great catch on a third down to score. Those are huge plays in a game. And I just can’t say enough about those guys. They work their tail off and I’m just happy that that work is paying off for them on Sundays and they’re getting to go out there and shine.”
(On his relationship with Cooper Kupp)
“It’s good. I think we spend a lot of time together, we spend a lot of time talking about the game of football. I really do that with all of our receivers. I’m lucky in that regard that our guys love the game, love the Xs and Os, love the little tiny parts of what make the passing game really good or just okay. And so, you know, I’m just happy and blessed to work with those guys. I feel lucky to do it, you know? And just trying to make the most of it.”
(On if this game has been a highlighted on his calendar for awhile)
“I don’t know. I had so many things changing in my life going on, that I knew this one was out there but I wasn’t sitting there thinking about it. I had plenty of other stuff to think about, to be honest with you. It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind. I’m just trying to make sure that I’m as prepared as I can every single day to help us win. Am I happy it’s over with? Yeah. You know, I got a lot of great friends, a lot of people I care about that are on that team or from that city, and just glad to have this one over with. Can put the story lines away and just go out and play football the rest of the year and just enjoy it.”
(On how play designs and third down approach was different today than in the previous couple of weeks)
“I thought Sean (McVay) gave us an opportunity to be great on third down today. He does every week. It comes down to execution. It comes down to me doing my job, our guys upfront doing their job, and receivers getting open and catching the football. We hadn’t done that at a rate that I think we’re capable of and Coach (McVay) thinks we’re capable of and I agree with him the last couple of weeks. It was nice to get out there and do it again today. Were we perfect? No. On fourth down, just, somebody tell me to run the dang thing. I mean, it’s so open, I just don’t know what the hell to do in space. So I got to run that thing, get the first for us, keep us on the field. There’s definitely plays I want back, that being a big one. So still a lot to improve on but I’m proud of our guys for making an concerted effort on some, being able to stay on the field. Our defense was on the field a lot early because of those onside(kicks) and fake punts and stuff, and it was big for us to kind of convert some third downs early in the game just to give them a little bit of a break and not be two, three-play drives. So it was good.”
(On how it feels to be one of 12 players that have thrown for 300 passing touchdowns)
“It means a little bit. I grew up watching John (Elway) and I was a huge fan. I wore No. 7 in high school and college because of John. And I was a huge fan of the way he played the game, the way he threw the ball, all of that. It’s pretty cool. I’m sure I’ll appreciate it probably more when I’m done playing. But along the way, it’s nice to get that done with a win. If we had not won the game, I would probably be feeling a little bit different about it. But being able to win the game and do something like that, it’s pretty special.”
(On registering his 33rd fourth quarter comeback against his former team)
“I didn’t even think about that until you just said it. But I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win the game, you know? And if that means the ball’s handed with me with however much time’s left to go out there and try and do something, I’m going to try and do it. It was a team effort at the end today. It may go on my record as a quarterback or whatever. But Jalen (Ramsey) gets a pick, Matt Gay hits a field goal to really ice the thing. Yeah, we had a touchdown in there, too, but that’s a team fourth quarter right there. That’s all phases coming together. That play by Jalen (Ramsey) is unbelievable, you know? I mean, that’s a long drive. They’re going down there, they’re about to get seven and make it really tough on us. And he just comes out of nowhere and makes the play of the day. So I’m happy to be on the team with a guy like that. And I’m just happy we came away with a win.”