In January 2021, the Detroit Lions and star quarterback Matthew Stafford mutually agreed to part ways. Stafford enjoyed several superb seasons in Detroit, but the team around him never provided Stafford with a true opportunity to compete for a championship. Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams over the offseason, and he now has the opportunity to play for a title as Los Angeles takes on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.

Stafford has a chance to change the narrative of his career into that of a big-time-game QB with an excellent performance in this matchup. Let’s make some bold predictions for the Rams signal-caller with a Super Bowl berth on the line.

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3 bold predictions for Matthew Stafford in NFC Championship game

3. Stafford will throw for 350+ yards

The Rams are going to need to put up points to win this game, and they will turn to their expensive offseason acquisition to do so. The the main reason Stafford wanted to get out of Detroit and come to a team like the Rams was to play in big games like this one. He's put up big numbers for years in games that didn’t really matter, and now he has a chance to prove that he is capable of doing so on the biggest stage in football, against elite competition in the most consequential game of his life.

This is the moment that Stafford has been wishing for his entire NFL career, and he will not let it go to waste. Stafford is going to put the Rams on his back, sling the ball all over the field and put up massive numbers. The Rams are going to need their passing game to lead them to a victory, and Stafford will not disappoint.

2. Stafford will throw 3+ touchdowns

Stafford is going to find the end zone at least three times in this game. He has several weapons on offense, from the elite and consistent Cooper Kupp to the explosive Odell Beckham Jr. Cam Akers is also a weapon out of the backfield that Stafford will be able to utilize. Look for Kupp and Beckham to score at least one touchdown apiece, possibly more. Even if they only reach the end zone once each, that means just one more player has to step up and find paydirt for Stafford to achieve this prediction.

It is unlikely that this game is a blowout, which means that both teams will be putting the ball in the hands of their best player. For the Rams, this means turning away from the running game, putting the ball in Stafford’s hands and trusting him to be smart and make plays while protecting the football.

1. Stafford will lead the Rams on a game-winning drive within the last two minutes of regulation

This game is going to come down to the wire. The Rams are going to need Stafford to be at his best to come away with a win, and he will be up for the challenge. This is the kind of game and the kind of situation that Stafford has dreamed of playing in ever since he has been in the NFL. He will step up to the challenge and lead his team to victory when the chips are down. This type of game can shape the narrative of a player's entire career.

Stafford is will aware of that, and he will step up and show out in this game, leading the Rams to their first Super Bowl since 2001.