Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford suffered an injury to a finger on his throwing hand in the opening round of the playoffs against the Carolina Panthers.
Whether it was due to the injury or not, Stafford easily had one of his worst games of the season. Both games against Carolina were his two-lowest graded performances according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The Rams are fortunate that Stafford and the offense were able to come alive with the game on the line and secure a game-winning touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network gave an update on Stafford. X-Rays were negative, which is positive news. This rules out both broken bones and/or a dislocation. The expectation is that the veteran quarterback will undergo additional tests ahead of the divisional round of the playoffs.
So how did the finger affect Stafford’s performance on Saturday?
A user on X, JoshiosTweets, took an attempt to chart the quarterback’s passing before, during, and after the hand injury. It’s clear that Stafford was either bothered or performing below expectations for nearly full two quarters.
Disclaimer: I’m not sure we can say that Stafford “healed” from the injury over a course of the game. I think it’s fair to take the “after hand” numbers with a grain of salt. The quarterback obviously played better towards the end of the game; however, I think it’s difficult to discern how much the injury played a role. It is not a coincidence that Stafford’s two-worst games (according to PFF) both came against the Panthers. The truth probably lies somewhere between an out of character bad game and being off because of the finger.
The Rams and Stafford couldn’t ask for a better start to the game offensively. They jumped out to a sizeable lead on the Panthers. Puka Nacua accounting for 100% of the yards and touchdown on the opening drive. He also scored the team’s second touchdown on what was counted as a rushing attempt (backwards lateral).
Stafford’s completion percentage dipped to just 16.7% during a stretch of poor play. He also threw an interception. I also made some calculations and found a period where the quarterback completed just four of 19 passes. The Rams were committed to the passing game and weren’t getting any production through the air.
What matters most is how Stafford performed in crunch time. He tossed two touchdowns and completed 80% of his passes. If the veteran didn’t ascend to another level, the Rams would likely be watching the divisional round from their couches. His team needed him and Stafford rose to the occasion.
Check back at Turf Show Times as we monitor injury news related to Stafford and others. We will also find out today who the Rams will face in the divisional round. Stay tuned.
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