Matthew Stafford On Rams’ 1-4 Start: ‘You Can’t Be Scared To Put Yourself Back Out There’

The Los Angeles Rams came up just short in their comeback attempt and suffered a 24-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers that dropped them to 1-4 on the season.

The Rams trailed by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, but trimmed the deficit to five when Matthew Stafford capped off a 91-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson L.A. went for a two-point conversion but failed.

The Rams got the ball back with just under three minutes left and moved all the way to the Packers’ 38-yard line. However, the drive stalled when Colby Parkinson wasn’t able to reel in a pass on fourth down.

Stafford believes the Rams can’t get discouraged by their poor start and must continue to compete every week, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:

“I continue to try to be myself,” Stafford said. “I’ve played a bunch of seasons in this league, have started seasons with some great records, started some seasons with, you know, tough ones. You can’t be scared to put yourself back out there no matter what the record is. No matter how you played the week before, the play before, it doesn’t matter. A lot of people sit there and watch the game, and a few of us have the courage go out there and put yourself out there and do it. And we gotta be strong-willed in that, and understanding that you know, not every play is going to go your way, not every game is going to go your way. You gotta be able to suck it up and put yourself back out there for the next week, the next play, with no fear, and know that the preparation that you’re doing week in and week out is enough, and trust that, go out there and try to make the plays.”

The Rams have faced similar adversity before as they began the 2023 season with a 3-6 record before going on a run to make the playoffs.

Fortunately for the team, they have a much-needed bye in Week 6 before resuming play with a home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The week off should give them a chance to regroup and get healthier for the second half of the season.

Rams getting back key players for Week 7

The Rams are expecting to get back several reinforcements for their game against the Raiders, including Cooper Kupp, who has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2.

L.A. could also designate some players to return from injured reserve, but there will be more clarity on that during the bye.