Matthew Stafford stood on the sidelines, watching Tom Brady orchestrate another spectacular comeback.
This time, the seven-time Super Bowl winner left too much time on the clock and he gave Stafford an opportunity to create some playoff magic too.
The remaining 42 seconds was enough for the Rams quarterback to help Los Angeles beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27 on Sunday.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Stafford said. We let them back into the game due to some errors in attack. Our defense played exceptionally well. We need to clean up our game and do a better job of avoiding turnovers. »
The Rams earned their ticket to the National Conference Finals for the second time in four seasons.
Stafford threw for two touchdowns and for 366 passing yards. The Rams’ big offseason acquisition joined wide receiver Cooper Kupp for two long plays that set the stage for Matt Gay’s game-winning 30-yard field goal as the final seconds ticked away.
“I’m still trying to understand everything that happened. It was a crazy game, Rams linebacker Von Miller said. I knew it was going to be decided at the end of the game. Every time I’ve faced Tom Brady, it’s always been decided in the later games. Any advance we had was not enough. I’m proud of the guys. Each of us answered the call. »
The Rams (14-5) will now host the San Francisco 49ers in Los Angeles, with the possibility of reaching the Super Bowl for the second time in four seasons.
Brady helped the Buccaneers recover from a 27-3 second-half deficit, but he was also helped by three of the Rams’ four turnovers. A nine-yard run from Leonard Fournette on fourth down tied the game with 42 seconds remaining.
Brady didn’t get a chance to finish the job and it’s still unclear if it was his last career game.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” said the 44-year-old quarterback, who led the NFL with 5,136 passing yards and 43 touchdowns this season.
Stafford, acquired from the Detroit Lions in the offseason for Jared Goff, threw passes for 20 and 44 yards to Kupp immediately after the kickoff. Gay made his third placement of the game.
“What an interesting game and what a tremendous sign of resilience,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. A lot of things didn’t work out for us in the second half, but the guys kept fighting and they found a way to win. »
Earlier in the game, Stafford joined Kupp late alone behind the Buccaneers secondary for a 70-yard major that gave the Rams a 17-3 second quarter lead.
“He’s the heart and soul of this offense,” Stafford said. What he is able to accomplish, both in the air game and on the ground game, shows that he is an incredible competitor. »
Stafford, who had never won a playoff game prior to their win over the Arizona Cardinals the previous week, completed 28 of 38 passes and none were intercepted. The 13-year veteran scored a one-yard rushing touchdown for the Rams.
Brady found takers on 30 of 54 passes for 329 yards. The Buccaneers quarterback threw a touchdown pass and an interception, was the victim of three sacks and lost a fumble.
The Buccaneers (14-5), who went down for the third time in two seasons against the Rams, tried to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots in 2004, then trailing by Brady.