Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams were well on the way to an MVP award, with reasonable expectations of entering the playoffs with the best record in the NFC. While one game cannot derail an entire season, Sunday’s 31-28 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 13 is certainly a bump in the road. The game was competitive and exciting, but how could weeks of momentum be slowed by a team entering with a 6-6 record?
Fighting for the best record in the NFC, Stafford went into Week 13 with 30 passing touchdowns to just two interceptions. In a very competitive NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are right on their tail. The team was expected to pad its lead at the expense of the lowly Panthers. Their opponents’ 15th-ranked pass defense showed up and turned the veteran god of a quarterback into a mere mortal.
It was tied 7-7 with less than 5:00 to go in the first quarter. Los Angeles marched into the red zone, looking to go up a score. It was former Rams’ safety Nick Scott who broke Stafford’s interception streak. Scott snagged a pass into the endzone, giving Carolina the ball with a touchback.
With under 1:30 to go in the first quarter, Stafford threw another interception, this time a pick-six to cornerback Mike Jackson. Los Angeles found themselves down 14-7 early due to uncharacteristically poor ball control. The game was an exciting back-and-forth affair from there, but the Panthers played a clean game to hold on for the win.
The Rams are still atop the NFC West standings after Week 13, but things are much tighter than fans would like. They have an identical 9-3 record as the Seahawks, with the 49ers still well in the mix at 9-4. After doubling his season interceptions in one game, will Stafford bounce back to MVP form, or will the pressure-filled division start to get to him?
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