Rams face Stafford decision and offseason questions after NFC Championship loss

The Los Angeles Rams' season ended in a 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, Cbssports reports. The defeat leaves the club with a major question about quarterback Matthew Stafford's future and several pressing offseason decisions. Stafford, who turns 38 in two weeks, led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns and a 46-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio in what the report calls an MVP-level season; in the title game he threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, took one sack and had no turnovers, and he was noncommittal about his future Sunday.

The Rams fielded the league's highest-scoring offense while a defense led by coordinator Chris Shula produced a deep pass rush and forced 26 turnovers (fifth-most in the NFL). Shula, 39, has interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals, and his potential departure would force choices about promoting internally — the report notes Raheem Morris was the Rams' defensive coordinator from 2021-23 — or hiring elsewhere.

Special teams misplays also proved costly: Xavier Smith's muffed punt in the NFC title game led directly to a Seahawks touchdown, and the Rams finished 31st in special teams expected points added this season after ranking 24th last year and dead last the year before.

Key Topics

Sports, Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, Nfc Championship Game, Chris Shula, Sean Mcvay