Matthew Stafford assured chilly climate will not have an effect on him vs. Bears

He performed 12 seasons within the NFC North earlier than he was traded to the Rams, so quarterback Matthew Stafford is not any stranger to cold-weather video games.

On Sunday night time, when the Rams play the Chicago Bears in an NFC divisional-round at Soldier Field, game-time temperatures might embrace a wind-chill under zero levels.

Stafford, citing historic NFL video games that had been performed in powerful climate, stated on Wednesday that he would embrace the weather.

“There’s something to it, right, that feels right when football’s outdoors, you’re playing late in the year, it’s cold, it means a lot,” Stafford stated, including, “I know it’s going to be a great crowd there, and it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Stafford, 37, suffered a sprained proper index finger Saturday towards the Carolina Panthers however nonetheless handed for 304 yards and three touchdowns, with an interception, within the 34-31 wild-card victory.

On Wednesday, he stated that he suffered no residual results within the rapid aftermath, that the finger was feeling “great” and that it might not have an effect on his capacity to grip or throw the ball on Saturday.

“Whatever it was there is gone now,” he stated.

Still, all eyes shall be on Stafford, and the way the finger would possibly have an effect on his efficiency, when the Rams play the Bears in solely the third playoff matchup between the groups.

“Fortunately,” coach Sean McVay stated, “Matthew’s played in these conditions.”

Stafford stated he would put on a cosy, warming layer underneath his uniform that he first used with the Lions. Cold climate doesn’t trouble him, he stated, and every sport requires distinctive changes.

“You can’t simply bunch ‘em all together,” he said, adding, “You just kind of figure it out as you go.”

Stafford has a 12-10 profession file towards the Bears. His 22 video games towards them is tied for the second most towards any staff, one behind the Minnesota Vikings.

He has a 5-7 file towards the Bears at Soldier Field.

It didn’t go properly for the Rams and Stafford the final time they performed there. On Sept. 29, 2024, Stafford accomplished 20 of 29 passes for 224 yards, with an interception, in a 24-18 loss. The Rams had the ball with 1:03 left, however the Bears intercepted a move to seal the Rams’ defeat.

Stafford performed in two cold-weather video games final season.

In late December towards the New York Jets, the wind-chill issue was 14 levels. Stafford accomplished 14 of 19 passes for 110 yards and a landing, with an interception, in a 19-9 victory.

In final season’s NFC divisional-round sport at Philadelphia, with a wind-chill issue of 27 levels, Stafford accomplished 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-22 defeat that ended with the Rams on the Eagles’ 22-yard line and an incomplete move meant for Puka Nacua.

Now he faces a Bears protection that ranks poorly in most statistical classes, however leads the NFL with 23 interceptions. The unit additionally recovered 10 fumbles.

“That’s how they’ve thrived,” Stafford stated.

During the common season, the Bears gave up 24.4 factors and 361.8 yards per sport, which ranked twenty third and twenty eighth, respectively, amongst 32 NFL groups. They had been twenty seventh in dashing protection (134.5 yards per sport) and twenty second in move protection (227.2)

Veteran security Kevin Byard III had a league-best seven interceptions, cornerback Nahshon Wright 5 and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds 4 for a staff that defeated the Green Bay Packers 27-24 within the wild-card spherical.

“They’ve got a… talented back end that catches the ball when it’s in their area,” Stafford stated. “They do a nice job up front as well affecting the pocket.”

The Rams are making ready for Sunday in sunny and heat situations in Woodland Hills. McVay joked that the Rams had been going to get “the biggest cold plunge ever, and everybody’s going to see if we can sit in that thing for three hours.”

Hot or chilly, the preparation would be the identical, in line with Stafford.

“We don’t care what the weather is here, what it is there,” he stated. “Just go play.”