Rams' Matthew Stafford says finger injury 'wasn't pleasant,' but adrenaline kicked in during wild-card win

With the pocket collapsing late in the first half during a 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday in Charlotte, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hit his throwing hand on edge rusher D.J. Wonnum.

Stafford, an MVP frontrunner and finally a first-team All-Pro, completed only two of his next 10 passes. 

He tossed an interception in the third quarter on an undethrown pass and would have been picked off again in the the fourth quarter, had it not been for two-time Pro Bowl wideout Puka Nacua's superb defensive back impression.

Stafford was mostly on the money in the final frame, though. He completed 12-of-15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the second a 19-yard game-winner to tight end Colby Parkinson.

"Yeah, I got a finger bent back," the 17-year veteran said postgame, when asked about his right hand. "They saw it on the TV on the sideline or whatever. I didn't obviously know exactly what had happened. 

"It wasn't pleasant. It wasn't great. We'll see what it is. I was obviously able to finish the game and throw it decent. Once the ball's snapped, the adrenaline's pretty good, so we'll hopefully just keep it going."

Stafford entered top five all-time in NFL game-winning drives. He engineered his latest on the road in Bank of America Stadium with the Rams' season hanging in the balance.

"He was steady. It was MVP type of stuff, what he did," L.A. head coach Sean McVay said of Stafford, who finished with 304 yards and three touchdowns through the air. 

"Just good calm. I thought he redirected a couple of the protections that allowed him not to be hot where we would've been. And on all those plays, he ended up finding completions, and he got a bunch of different guys involved. I thought he saw the field really well. And that's why we're advancing, because of his leadership."

Stafford went 6 of 7 on that series, which began with the Rams trailing 31-27 and only 2:39 remaining.

The three-time Pro Bowler agreed with his head coach that he was steady. He also said that he was seeing the Panthers' coverages well, and he complimented his offensive line for keeping him clean so he could go through his progressions.

"I feel like I've been in that spot a lot in my life," Stafford said of Saturday's game-winning drive. "And so it brings a smile to my face because I like being there. I would love to be up 14 and taking a knee on it with four minutes left. 

"But shoot, a win's a win."