Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford came close to guiding the Los Angeles Rams back to the Super Bowl, but on Sunday, January 26, Los Angeles fell just short, losing 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks. Following the defeat, Stafford’s wife, Kelly, spoke out about certain NFL procedures surrounding playoff and championship games.

Stafford and the Rams fought hard, but they couldn’t overcome Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, who will now advance as NFC champions.

When asked about retirement immediately after the game, Stafford said, “I can’t generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss. I appreciate the guys in this locker room so much. Everyone who helped me and contributed to our team’s success this year—I’ll just leave it at that.”

Rams head coach Sean McVay declined to directly answer whether Stafford would return next season. “You’ll have to ask him,” McVay said. He added praise for the quarterback’s performance this season: “We’ve been completely in the moment. If he wants to play, he’s still performing at a very high level. He’s the league MVP in my book, and if he’s not… I respect everyone else, but he played at a level that’s unique.”

Before the game, Kelly Stafford shared her frustrations with the NFL’s ticketing system for playoff and championship games. She called the process “crazy,” noting that even as the wife of the team’s star quarterback, securing tickets was unnecessarily complicated. On her Instagram story on January 20, she wrote, “Honestly … having to download the other team’s app just to get tickets is getting a little absurd.”

Despite the difficulties, Kelly and the couple’s children were able to attend the game to cheer on Matthew. She affectionately referred to him as their “MVD,” highlighting his continued excellence even though the Rams fell short of victory. He remains a fan favorite for the MVP discussion this season.

Rams React to Narrow Loss

After the game, McVay admitted he was surprised by the outcome. “I really thought we’d be standing on that podium, but we weren’t. Credit to Seattle, but I love this group of players. I usually have plenty to say, and right now… I’m at a loss for words. It’s tough.”

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua also defended Stafford’s performance, saying the quarterback wasn’t the reason for the loss. “He consistently makes plays for us,” Nacua said. “In critical moments, he reads the defense and puts the ball where it needs to be.” Nacua led the team with nine receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown in the game.