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.

Matthew Stafford had a midgame lull while battling a hand injury but overcame it to post an MVP-caliber fourth quarter and lead the Rams to a win.

The Panthers gave the Rams a scare in Saturday's Wild Card showdown but Matthew Stafford delivered in the clutch with the go-ahead score.

Before the start of the 2025 NFL regular season, almost no one, not even their own fan base, seemed to believe in the Carolina Panthers. Oddsmakers had given them a win total of 6.

Stafford was voted a first-team All-Pro, the first time he's ever been selected in his 17-year career. He's one of the MVP frontrunners alongside Drake Maye, leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdown passes and 236 first downs. He led the Rams to a 12-5 record and threw only eight interceptions.