Matthew Stafford Reveals the Real Reason He Entered the Medical Tent During Rams-Seahawks Thriller
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams once again rose to the occasion under the primetime lights, nearly securing both the division and conference lead before the Seattle Seahawks mounted a late comeback and escaped with a 38–37 overtime victory.
Stafford looked every bit like his MVP-caliber self throughout the night, but briefly caused concern late in the fourth quarter when he headed to the medical tent. However, despite the tense moment and the game’s chaotic finish, Stafford’s trip to the tent had nothing to do with an injury.
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Matthew Stafford Clears Up Sideline Scare After Medical Tent Visit
Although Stafford missed a few big-time throws, he was still impressive overall, completing 29 of 49 passes for 457 yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Rams build a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but sparked concern when he hurried to the medical tent on the sideline.
While the move initially raised fears of an injury, Stafford clarified the situation postgame with a smile. When asked what he was being evaluated for, he said, “I was not being evaluated for anything. I had to use the restroom. I just didn’t want to run in [to the locker room].”
Stafford once again avoided throwing an interception, marking his eighth career game this season with three or more touchdowns and zero picks — just the fourth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. After Seattle tied the game at 30–30 to force overtime, Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for his 37th touchdown pass of the season.
WHAT. A. PASS. TOUCHDOWN PUKA!!
📺 @NFLonPrime | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/5EbbedYlLN
— x – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 19, 2025
Through 14 games, the veteran quarterback has now completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,722 yards and 37 touchdowns, ranking sixth in PFSN’s QB Impact metric. Despite the Thursday Night Football loss, Stafford remains firmly in the MVP conversation alongside Drake Maye and Josh Allen.
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With the defeat, Los Angeles fell to 11–4, dealing a significant blow to its chances of winning the division and securing the NFC’s top seed. According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, the Rams now have a 15.3% chance to win the NFC West and a 13% chance to claim the No. 1 seed.
The path is no longer in the Rams’ control. Even if they win their final two games, they would still need help, as victories by either the Seahawks or the 49ers could deny them the division title. PFSN’s NFL Strength of Schedule shows Los Angeles with the 13th-hardest remaining schedule, while San Francisco faces the league’s toughest slate and Seattle the ninth-hardest.
