The Los Angeles Rams suffered a disappointing defeat to the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, and it came in an unfortunately fitting fashion. Matthew Stafford has played at an MVP level this season, fueling the Rams’ early-season run out to a 9-2 start.
However, he was the source of 3 turnovers in Week 13.
The Panthers, meanwhile, were unapologetic in victory, making their feelings about Stafford and the Rams painfully clear.
Panthers CB Mike Jackson Takes Shot at Matthew Stafford
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before facing the San Francisco 49ers.
Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes (64.3%) for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 2 sacks taken, and 1 game-sealing fumble lost. One of his interceptions went for a Panthers touchdown.
It was Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson who did the damage on the play.
“We just came to play today,” Jackson told reporters postgame. “All week, ya’ll [the media] just kept talking about how great he is, and how he’s Superman with no cape. And it was just like, at the end of the day, it’s like who’s better today? And we were. We got the ball out twice – shoot! Three times. So, we got the result that we wanted.”
Stafford had not thrown an interception since Week 3, when the Rams lost on the road 33-26 to the Philadelphia Eagles. He had not thrown multiple interceptions all season.
This was just his second multi-turnover game of the campaign.
“Matthew Stafford has thrown 31 pick-6s in his career,” NFL senior researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming noted in a post on X on November 30. “1 behind Brett Favre (32) for the most in NFL history.”
Panthers HC Dave Canales Drops Strong Message on Rams
GettyCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales looks on before the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who coached against McVay and the Rams as a member of the Seattle Seahawks staff from 2010 through 2022, was confident in his team. They entered the contest as multi-touchdown underdogs.
“Canales told team: We’ve seen the Rams best football. They haven’t seen ours yet,” The Athletic’s Joe Person reported on X on November 30.
The Panthers got above .500 (7-6) with the win and find themselves back in the playoff hunt.
This is the first loss for Stafford and the Rams since Week 5 in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers. While that was costly in the NFC West race at the time, this loss has even greater implications for the Rams.
Rams Lose No. 1 Seed to Bears
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Stafford and the Rams entered Week 13 as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. However, their loss shifted the balance of power in the Chicago Bears’ favor. The two teams are both 9-3, but the Bears own the top slot by virtue of their in-conference record.
“With the Rams’ loss to the Panthers, the Bears will enter December as the No. 1 seed in the NFC,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini posted on X after LA fell.
A Rams loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, combined with a Bears win, would sting.
The Rams have historically dominated that matchup. They have also been one of the best teams in the league this season and figure to be more fired up than usual after their letdown against the Panthers in Week 13.
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