INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Matthew Stafford did it again, and took another crucial step toward validating the Los Angeles Rams’ aggressive gamble acquisition from a year ago.
Facing a 10-point deficit with just less than a quarter remaining in the NFC championship game, the Rams’ quarterback directed the 44th fourth-quarter comeback of his career — and his second of this postseason — to lift his team 20-17 over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
In so doing, Stafford and the Rams punched their ticket to Super Bowl 56, where they will face the Cincinnati Bengals right back at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams become only the second team in the Super Bowl era, and the second in as many years, to host the NFL’s championship game in their own stadium.
A 13-0 fourth-quarter scoring run directed by Stafford — whom the Rams acquired via trade for Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-rounder last offseason — gave Los Angeles the lead, and a ferocious defensive stand that resulted in an interception by linebacker Travin Howard on a tipped pass off the hands of San Francisco running back JaMycal Hasty with 1:09 left slammed the door.
Sunday represented the third meeting of the season between these teams, and San Francisco entered having won both of the prior contests this season and their last six matchups with the Rams overall.
Not surprisingly, the grudge match started in slow fashion, with neither rival unable to find the end zone in the first quarter.
The Rams…
