QB Stafford: 'Right time and place' to give Rams discount
Matthew Stafford realizes he almost certainly could have gotten more money in a contract extension after his outstanding debut season with the Los Angeles Rams. After 13 NFL seasons and well over $230 million in earnings, Stafford admitted his priority isn't more dollars. It's more rings, and he believes his new four-year, $160 million deal through 2026 gives him the best opportunity to win them with the defending Super Bowl champions.
news.yahoo.comStafford gets contract extension through 2026 with Rams
Warriors Lakers Basketball Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, third from left, and his wife Kelly Stafford, second from right, watch the Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Quarterback Matthew Stafford has agreed to a four-year contract extension through 2026 with the Los Angeles Rams after winning the Super Bowl in his first season with the team. The deal signed by Stafford on Saturday is worth $160 million, with $135 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. He led game-winning drives in the fourth quarter of the Rams' final three postseason games, including their Super Bowl victory over Cincinnati at SoFi Stadium. But Los Angeles signed talented veteran receiver Allen Robinson this week, and the team is hoping to retain Odell Beckham Jr. as well.
wftv.comSuper Bowl: Rams, QB will pay bills for photographer who fell off stage during parade
Parade: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford speaks to the crowd during the team's Super Bowl LVI celebration in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford will cover the hospital expenses and damaged camera equipment of a photographer who fell off a stage during the team’s Super Bowl LVI victory parade. She did not realize she was at the edge of the stage and fell, CBS Sports reported. Stafford’s wife, Kelly Stafford, appears to be shocked as she stepped to the edge of the stage to check on Smiley. ”We have been in communication with Kelly Smiley since yesterday’s incident and we are sorry for what happened,” the statement read.
wftv.comRams photographer says she fractured spine at Super Bowl parade while taking photo of Staffords
Photographer Kelly Smiley says she broke her spine after falling off a stage at the team’s Super Bowl parade. Video shows Smiley setting up to take a photo when she falls backwards off the stage. Rams QB Matthew Stafford and his wife Kelly see her fall, and Kelly leans over to her while Matthew appears to express surprise and then turn around immediately. Smiley is a photographer for the Rams ...
news.yahoo.comVikings finalize hire of champion Rams OC Kevin O'Connell
Super Bowl Rams Football Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, right, talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford during practice for an NFL Super Bowl football game Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The Rams are scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Three days after the Rams beat Cincinnati for the title, O'Connell formally assumed his branch of the Sean McVay tree. He's now the fourth former assistant under the head coach of the Rams to become an NFL head coach himself. O'Connell replaces Mike Zimmer, fired last month after eight seasons and only two playoff-game wins, and will be the 10th head coach in Vikings history.
wftv.comSuper Bowl has 101 million TV viewers, up from 2021
That was a 6% increase over the 95.2 million TV viewers who saw the Tampa Bay Bucs crowned as champions in 2021, the Nielsen company said on Tuesday. For its hometown Bengals, Cincinnati had the highest audience share in the country, meaning the percentage of television viewers watching the game, Nielsen said. The most-watched Super Bowl ever remains the 2015 game between New England and Seattle, which had 114.4 million viewers. Nielsen estimated that 103.4 million television viewers watched the Super Bowl halftime show, and Samba's data illustrated how it is become an event in itself. ___This story has been corrected to show Nielsen revised its viewership count for last year’s Super Bowl, saying it had undercounted.
wftv.comSuper Bowl has 101 million TV viewers, up from 2021
Last year's game had a television audience of 92 million, the lowest since 2006. The Nielsen company said another 11.2 million people streamed the game, putting the total audience at 112.3 million people. The game went down to the wire, like most playoff games this season, and competitiveness usually adds viewers. The game defied trends in television, which consistently sees viewership drop from year to year. Nielsen said that 99.2 million people watched the game on NBC, and another 1.9 million on the Spanish-language network Telemundo.
wftv.comSuper Bowl has 101.1 million TV viewers, up from 2021
Rams Bengals Super Bowl Football Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)NEW YORK — (AP) — An estimated 101.1 million people watched the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals on NBC and Telemundo, up from 2021 and capping a stirring playoff schedule for the NFL. Last year's game had a television audience of 92 million, the lowest since 2006. The Nielsen company said another 11.2 million people streamed the game, putting the total audience at 112.3 million people. The game went down to the wire, like most playoff games this season, and competitiveness usually adds viewers. Nielsen said that 99.2 million people watched the game on NBC, and another 1.9 million on the Spanish-language network Telemundo.
wftv.com3 penalties on 3 straight plays in final minutes cost Cincy
After the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals were flagged only twice in the first 58 minutes, penalties on three consecutive plays helped determine a champion. Matthew Stafford tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp for the go-ahead score following three straight penalties on Cincinnati’s defense, and the Rams’ defense held on for a 23-20 victory Sunday. The barrage of flags started on third down from the 8 with 1:47 left when Stafford’s pass to Kupp was incomplete. On the next play, Stafford tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Kupp but the play was nullified by offsetting penalties. After Stafford got stuffed on a sneak, he tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Kupp.
wftv.comSuper Bowl LVI: Rams rally past Bengals, 23-20
Game winner: The Rams' Cooper Kupp makes the game-winning catch over Eli Apple with 1:25 left in Super Bowl LVI. The Colts won Super Bowl V while in Baltimore and Super Bowl XLI while in Indianapolis, and the Raiders won Super Bowl XI and XV while in Oakland and Super Bowl XVIII while playing in Los Angeles. The Bengals, meanwhile, were playing in their third Super Bowl and first in 33 years. Cincinnati’s two previous Super Bowl appearances were losses to the San Francisco 49ers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 Super Bowl LVI The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals warmed up before the NFL Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood, California.
wftv.comSuper Bowl Live: Kupp TD reception gives Rams 13-3 lead
___The Los Angeles Rams lead Super Bowl 56 and the Cincinnati Bengals 7-3 after the first quarter. This is the third straight Super Bowl where both teams scored in the opening quarter. ___The Los Angeles Rams have the first score of Super Bowl 56. ___Kickoff at Super Bowl 56 is less than an hour away with both teams warming up on the field at SoFi Stadium. Biden was asked about people going maskless at the Super Bowl by Lester Holt in an interview shown during NBC’s pregame show.
wftv.comSuper Bowl Live: Rams go up 7-0 on Beckham 17-yard TD grab
Rams Bengals Super Bowl Football Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) grabs a pass for a touchdown as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) defends during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (Matt Rourke)INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — The Latest on the Super Bowl:The Los Angeles Rams have the first score of Super Bowl 56. ___The Cincinnati Bengals have won the coin toss and have deferred to put the Los Angeles Rams on offense to start Super Bowl 56. ___Getting into this Super Bowl at the last minute will mean a big hit to the wallet. ___Kickoff at Super Bowl 56 is less than an hour away with both teams warming up on the field at SoFi Stadium. Biden was asked about people going maskless at the Super Bowl by Lester Holt in an interview shown during NBC’s pregame show.
wftv.comSuper Bowl Live: Game will be hot but not hottest ever
Rams Bengals Super Bowl Football Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)INGLEWOOD, Calif. — (AP) — The Latest on the Super Bowl:It’s hot at SoFi Stadium for Super Bowl 56. ___Getting into this Super Bowl at the last minute will mean a big hit to the wallet. ___Kickoff at Super Bowl 56 is less than an hour away with both teams warming up on the field at SoFi Stadium. That would make this the hottest Super Bowl ever, topping the record of 84 set on Jan. 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Biden was asked about people going maskless at the Super Bowl by Lester Holt in an interview shown during NBC’s pregame show.
wftv.comSuper Bowl Matchup: Veteran Rams versus upstart Bengals
So unanimous All-Pro DT Aaron Donald (99), LB Leonard Floyd (54) and revitalized Von Miller (40), the MVP of the 2016 Super Bowl, must be negated somewhat. Sure, the Rams made the 2019 Super Bowl with Jared Goff, but Stafford, finishing his 13th pro season, is a class above. His game management has been questioned, but it's hard to argue with four playoff trips in five seasons, and a Super Bowl loss three years ago. They also have the bitter memory of a putrid performance against New England in the 2019 Super Bowl. ___More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.com'Detroit Rams?' Odd Super Bowl shirts sold for Stafford fans
ODD Detroit Rams Shirts Football FILE - Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015. A sports apparel company is capitalizing on Detroit Lions fans’ loyalty to Matthew Stafford, the Super Bowl-bound Los Angeles Rams quarterback who for 12 years prior had made an appearance in that game seem possible for their home team. A store in a metro Detroit mall is selling the Lions-colored clothing with the phrase “Detroit Rams” featured above a logo that resembles a lion, only it’s a ram. A store in a metro Detroit mall is selling the Lions-colored clothing with the phrase "Detroit Rams" featured above a logo that resembles a lion, only it's a ram. A spokesperson for the company selling the clothing, The D Line, told the Detroit News they’ve sold about 500 “Detroit Rams” T-shirts as of Friday afternoon, and expect to sell several hundred more this weekend, before Sunday night’s Super Bowl between the Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
wftv.comBy the numbers, Bengals and Rams look like a perfect match
The Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams look evenly matched. Joe Burrow of the Bengals was the second-highest-rated passer in the National Football League (NFL) during the 2021 season. Cooper Kupp of the Rams caught an unbelievable 145 passes (the second most in NFL history) for 1,947 yards. The Rams’ defense was ranked 17th among the NFL’s 32 teams for yards allowed per game with 344.9. That may be a problem for the Bengals, because the Rams have Aaron Donald.
washingtonpost.comRams' Akers a medical marvel in comeback from torn Achilles
But the Los Angeles Rams running back has proven he's far from normal. Yet, here Akers is, at the Super Bowl and again a key part of Los Angeles' offense. “Facts, you know?” Akers said. “Any attention is good attention and I'd rather it be for scoring touchdowns,” Akers said with a smile. Akers has played in the Rams' three playoff games, and started the past two.
wftv.comBold, brash Rams pair flashy superstars with rock-solid core
APTOPIX 49ers Rams Football Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay celebrates after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — No team in the NFL was built like the Los Angeles Rams because nobody else would dare. “They don't remember that we've had the second-most draft picks of any franchise since 2017. The Rams are bold because that’s what Snead wants, but also because they believe it’s what Los Angeles wants. We are committed to doing all of that.”___More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comJuggling act: Rams O'Connell game planning and looking ahead
Vikings officials flew to California on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 to conduct a second interview with both Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. The Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator prefers to keep the focus on the immediate task at hand. You still want to be able to have some balance, but do a thorough job,” McVay said. Ironically, O'Connell joined Jay Gruden's staff in 2017 after McVay was hired as Rams coach. When O'Connell does take the Vikings job, he will be the fourth McVay assistant to become a head coach.
wftv.comRams' Stafford hopes to follow in friend Kershaw's footsteps
49ers Rams Football Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford celebrates after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams won 20-17 to advance to the Super Bowl. If he gets 315 yards in the Super Bowl, he will pass Eli Manning's single-season playoff record from 2011. Not bad for a 33-year-old quarterback who had never won a playoff game before last month. It's pretty special.”___More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comRams' Stafford hopes to follow in friend Kershaw's footsteps
Matthew Stafford got a call this week from a childhood friend who knows a little something about waiting a long time to win his first championship. Clayton Kershaw is hoping to be at SoFi Stadium next Sunday when Stafford leads the Los Angeles Rams (15-5) in search of the same long-sought title that Kershaw finally won with the Dodgers in 2020. “He's excited for me, which I appreciated,” Stafford said with a grin Thursday.
news.yahoo.comSan Francisco commits major mistakes at the worst time
For 6 3/4 games, the San Francisco 49ers had dominated the Los Angeles Rams. Then came the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NFC championship game, when everything unraveled. Coach Kyle Shanahan decided not to go it on fourth-and-2 in Rams territory, followed by a dropped interception by Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmy Garoppolo throwing a pick at the worst time.
news.yahoo.comOn to Super Bowl: Bengals versus Rams, who will host game
Now they’re headed to the Super Bowl to play the Los Angeles Rams — in the Rams’ home stadium. Matching the biggest comeback in an AFC championship game, the Bengals rallied from an 18-point hole to stun Kansas City 27-24 in overtime Sunday for their first trip to the big game since the 1988 season. The Rams won 20-17 to advance to the Super Bowl. The Bengals won 27-24. We’re a resilient group.”The other 18-point rally in the AFC championship game came in the 2006 season when Indianapolis beat New England 36-34.
wftv.comStar-studded LA Rams host surging 49ers in NFC title game
The same goes for everybody in the Los Angeles Rams’ constellation of stars around him. After crying on the sideline last January when the Rams' season slipped away in Green Bay, Donald is desperate to take that penultimate step toward his last career goal. But if the Rams (14-5) don’t overcome the 49ers’ maddening mastery over them, all their big moves will end in checkmate. If the Rams fall again Sunday, the disappointment will be crushing, but Donald thinks they're ready to shoulder the weight. "This week, my mindset is there’s no way we’re going to lose this game.
wftv.comRams make it 3 of 3 for road teams, beat Brady's Bucs 30-27
The 44-year-old quarterback, helped by Rams giveaways, nearly replicated the comeback from 25 points down against Atlanta in the second half of the 2017 Super Bowl. The 49ers are seeking their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons, having lost to Kansas City for the 2019 title. They swept the Rams this season, most notably winning 27-24 in overtime in the finale to secure a playoff berth. It’s a very cool and historic matchup for a place in the Super Bowl — which will be played at the Rams’ home stadium, no less. The Bengals, who lost twice in the Super Bowl to San Francisco in the 1980s, didn't play the Bills this season.
wftv.comGay's 30-yard FG lifts Rams over Brady, Buccaneers 30-27
Brady rallied the Bucs from a 27-3 second-half deficit with help from three Los Angeles turnovers, tying the game on Leonard Fournette’s 9-yard run on fourth-and-inches with 42 seconds remaining. Stafford led the Rams downfield after the ensuing kickoff, using completions of 20 and 44 yards to league receiving leader Cooper Kupp to set up Gay’s winning field goal. The 13-year veteran also scored on a 1-yard run as the Rams (14-5) advanced to next Sunday’s NFC championship game at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Brady completed 30 of 54 passes for 329 yards, one touchdown and one interception. ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comAllen, Mahomes, Stafford star on wild-card weeknd
Allen, Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford of the Rams all provided big passing days to highlight wild-card weekend. Stafford joined Allen (157.6 rating) and Mahomes (138.2 rating) with big performances. PLAYOFF DROUGHTSThe Bengals snapped the longest active drought without a playoff win when they beat Las Vegas 26-19 at home but some others are still ongoing. The Raiders now have the third longest drought since their last playoff win on Jan. 19, 2003, with only the Lions (Jan. 5, 1992) and Dolphins (Dec. 30, 2000) going longer. The Bengals remain one of two teams never to win a road playoff game, along with the Houston Texans.
wftv.comStafford propels Rams past Cardinals 34-11 in playoff rout
Cardinals Rams Football Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) gestures during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Los Angeles jumped to a 28-0 lead and cruised in the first playoff game at SoFi Stadium, which will host Super Bowl 56 next month. Long made a shoe-top interception and took one stride to score the shortest pick-6 in NFL playoff history. Stafford scored his first playoff rushing TD since January 2012 to cap the Rams' next drive. WEDDLE'S RETURNEric Weddle got significant playing time for the Rams in the 37-year-old veteran's first NFL game since the 2019 season finale.
wftv.com49ers clinch playoff berth by holding off Rams 27-24 in OT
Sixth-seeded San Francisco will play at Dallas next week, while the fourth-seeded Rams will host the Cardinals in the first playoff game in SoFi Stadium history. The Rams got the ball back, but Thomas picked off Matthew Stafford's long throw down the Rams' sideline. San Francisco now has its longest winning streak in this rivalry since the 1990s. Cooper Kupp caught a go-ahead TD pass from Stafford with 2:26 to play for the Rams, whose five-game winning streak ended. CAM THE RAMCam Akers ran the ball five times and caught three passes in his season debut for Los Angeles.
wftv.comRams look to cut out Stafford's errors before it costs them
Wins are piling up for the Los Angeles Rams. With the playoffs in sight, the two are unlikely to continue to coexist, something Stafford knows all too well after the Rams escaped with a 20-19 victory at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Despite Stafford throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble, the Rams (12-4) won their fifth straight game.
news.yahoo.comThe Latest: Pitts joins Ditka as rookie 1000-yard tight ends
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean) (Jeff Dean)The Latest from Week 17 of the NFL (all times EST):___2:35 p.m.Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts has set the franchise rookie record for yards receiving and became the NFL’s second rookie tight end to top 1,000 yards receiving. Pitts upped his season total to 1,018 yards receiving with season-high 61-yard catch and run late in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills. He broke the team’s rookie record set by Julio Jones, who had 959 yards receiving in 2011. Pitts also inched to within 58 yards of matching the NFL record set by Mike Ditka in 1961 for most yards receiving by a rookie tight end. In the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, Burrow passed the 4,293 yards recorded by Andy Dalton in the 2013 season.
wftv.comThe Latest: Burrow throws a 72-yard touchdown pass to Chase
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean) (Jeff Dean)The Latest from Week 17 of the NFL (all times EST):___1:58 p.m.Joe Burrow has thrown a 72-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase to cut Cincinnati's cut deficit against Kansas City to seven points. On the second play of Cincinnati’s next drive, Burrow and Chase hooked up for the big touchdown. With his 40-yard completion to receiver Laquon Treadwell in the first quarter of their matchup with New England, Lawrence has set the Jaguars single-season rookie passing yards mark. He entered the game leading all rookies with 319 completions and ranking second with 3,225 yards passing. He needed 47 just more yards passing to break Gardner Minshew's record for the most in franchise history by a rookie.
wftv.comPunt return TD sparks Rams in playoff-clinch win vs. Vikings
APTOPIX Rams Vikings Football Los Angeles Rams' Brandon Powell flips into the end zone during a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Minneapolis. Kirk Cousins had 315 yards on 27-for-38 passing for the Vikings with a touchdown to K.J. GIFT RETURNPowell gave the Rams their first non-offensive touchdown of the season, their first special teams return score since Pharoh Cooper in 2017, and their first punt return touchdown since Tavon Austin in 2015 when they still played in St. Louis. Kupp had a 37-yard reception on third down in the fourth quarter to help put the game away. ... RB Darrell Henderson Jr. hurt his knee in the fourth quarter on his only carry, a 17-yard gain.
wftv.comPunt return TD lifts Rams past Vikings to get playoff spot
APTOPIX Rams Vikings Football Los Angeles Rams' Brandon Powell flips into the end zone during a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Minneapolis. But his interception in the end zone in the first quarter loomed large all afternoon. Anthony Barr picked off Stafford twice, both deep in Rams territory, and the Vikings turned them into 10 points. Beckham had 2,755.Cooper Kupp had a 37-yard reception on third down in the fourth quarter to help put the game away. ... RB Darrell Henderson Jr. hurt his knee in the fourth quarter on his only carry, a 17-yard gain.
wftv.com