What you see is what you get—and the Rams got a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley: 26 carries, 205 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Some Eagles’ defenders even gamboled while others attempted to make snow angels to celebrate the turnovers as the No. 2 seed Eagles edged out the No. 4 Rams. This energy was matched by their bold fans after a small portion of them went shirtless. But what did Sean McVay and LA get in the end? Yes, an L to cap it off, 22-28.

The Rams had their shot. Matthew Stafford and the offense had the ball late with a chance to steal the win, but Philly’s defense slammed the door. Now Sean McVay is left holding the clipboard of what-ifs and missed chances. And when the final whistle blows, you know what comes next: the post-game podium where his thoughts lay bare.

McVay stated: “Love this team, and it’s just hard because you didn’t want it to end. I just didn’t see it go any other way than us earning a couple more opportunities to play, and that’s tough because you don’t get that. I think you saw. There were some times where some uncharacteristic things in terms of the ball handling.

“We had two turnovers that probably don’t necessarily occur in different elements. A couple of drops. You could see when Saquon got to the second level, it was similar to the first game, but there were some different layers in our defense. He was able to pull away but you know, but they had to play in it too, we had to play in it. We had every opportunity to be able to win that game in the end there…We’re a couple of plays away from me being a lot happier right now.”

McVay’s tone said it all: close, but not close enough. And let’s face it—this one hurt. The Rams’ season-long struggle against the run was no secret, ranking 22nd in the league. Their thin linebacker corps didn’t help, and Barkley exploited it like the in-form man he is. Yet, despite all that, the Rams never stopped fighting.

Top Comment by Anonomous

Outclassed them. When the going got tuff— the tuff got going ! Go EAGLES !

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That resilience? It’s been their calling card all season. After a dismal 1-4 start to the season, no one believed in them. But they still managed to limp to the NFC’s final four.

They nearly pulled off another miracle on the snowy night. Barkley’s late-game touchdown turned out to be the dagger, but the Rams came heartbreakingly close—just 13 yards shy of a stunning upset. Oh, and let’s not forget the brutal missed call by the refs on the final play. Without that, we might be telling a different story right now.

Instead, the reality is harsh: the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes are done. So what’s next? All eyes are on Matthew Stafford.

Will LA see Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford together in 2025?

That’s the question swirling after a divisional-round loss to the Eagles. It was a brutal end to a season that almost felt like a redemption story. Matthew Stafford threw for 324 yards and 2 TDs, putting together a solid performance. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. The Rams came up short, and now it’s time to look ahead to the next season. But will Stafford still be the guy for L.A.?

McVay said it best, “Stafford got his rib early.” That’s right, Stafford played through a rib injury, and still, he gave L.A. a shot at the win. How many quarterbacks would do that? Stafford is tough as nails. Even when he is dinged up, the guy still goes to work.

You saw that competitive fire on Sunday when he nearly pulled off a comeback to keep the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes alive. A ridiculous deep throw to Puka Nacua got the momentum swinging, but a false start and some pressure on fourth down ultimately derailed that game-winning drive.

It’s been a hell of a ride for Stafford, but now he is faced with a tough decision. At 36, he’s got some serious choices to make. “I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball,” Stafford told the media. No question about that. He has still got it, but injuries keep creeping up, and they’ve got to be a factor moving forward. Stafford’s future is tied to both his body and his heart. Does he want to keep playing through the pain, or is it time to call it a career?

And don’t forget McVay—he’s in the mix too. The uncertainty around Stafford’s future could change the whole dynamic of the Rams’ destiny. McVay has always backed Stafford, but can they keep this partnership going for another season? For the front office, it’s a different ballgame. Stafford has two years left on his contract, with a cap hit of $49.5 million in 2025. If the Rams decide to cut or trade him before next season, they’d face a hefty dead cap charge due to remaining prorated signing and option bonuses.

“I’m not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year,” McVay stated with regard to Stafford’s future. “Right now, I’m just appreciative of this team.” Even the QB has stayed mum on the topic.

The Rams aren’t in a position to start fresh. Stafford’s performance in 2024 wasn’t flawless, but it was good enough to lead them back to the playoffs after a rocky start. But now, the big questions remain: Will McVay stick with Stafford? Or will the Rams move on? Stafford’s future is up in the air, and that means McVay’s plans are, too.

One thing’s for sure though: Stafford’s still got the arm. He’s still got the fight. So, don’t expect him to back out from a challenge.