Following the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 16 “Thursday Night Football” loss to the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Matthew Stafford shared head coach Sean McVay’s uncertainty about a pivotal late-game two-point conversion. While Stafford focused on the rulebook, his wife, Kelly Stafford, directed her frustration toward the officials.
Kelly Stafford publicly questioned the referees’ conduct during the game, aligning with earlier criticism from Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua. She even hinted at wanting to investigate the officiating crew more closely.
On her Instagram story posted December 19, Kelly Stafford reacted to a deep Seahawks reception that helped move them into Rams territory.
“I’ve never seen refs look that excited over a catch,” she wrote. “Now the blown-dead two-point attempt and the illegal man downfield call make more sense. Should someone look into this? Can we get the names of these refs?”
Nacua had previously been fined $25,000 for remarks suggesting officials make calls for television exposure. Although McVay criticized Nacua’s comments publicly, he also stood by his player. Nacua also drew criticism for a planned touchdown celebration that never happened, which was later described as containing antisemitic imagery.
Kelly Stafford has drawn attention in the past for outspoken remarks, including comments about her husband’s long-term future with the team during the previous offseason.
Stafford and McVay Question the Rule
Matthew Stafford centered his postgame remarks on the controversial two-point play. Speaking to reporters on December 18, he admitted confusion about the ruling.
“I just want to understand the rule,” Stafford said. “I didn’t think you were allowed to advance a fumble on a two-point try or inside two minutes. Otherwise, everyone would just fumble forward instead of going down. I’m sure they checked with New York, but it was strange to me.”
McVay shared a similar reaction immediately after the game and expanded on his concerns the following day, referencing his role on the NFL’s competition committee.
“There are a lot of layers to these rules, and I respect how difficult officiating can be,” McVay said on December 19. “But I don’t believe that’s the type of play we want influencing outcomes in this league.”
Rams Face New Challenges
The loss was costly for Los Angeles. The Rams fell from the top spot in the NFC to fifth overall and slipped to second place in their division. They also lost starting right guard Kevin Dotson to an ankle injury.
Despite already securing a playoff spot, the Rams no longer control their path to home-field advantage, and the defeat opened the door for the San Francisco 49ers to gain ground.
While the controversial call drew plenty of attention, both Stafford and McVay were careful not to blame the officials for the loss in the immediate aftermath, instead acknowledging the team still has work to do with three games remaining.
