At State Farm Stadium, he heard the enthusiastic cheering from the away fans.
It was a wild-card round game originally scheduled for SoFi Stadium on Monday night, but the team relocated to Arizona due to wildfires in Southern California. The quarterback stated the team was playing for a city facing a very challenging situation.
We had every reason to come out sluggish and feel sorry for ourselves, but we knew we weren’t just playing for ourselves,” Stafford said. “[We were] playing for the people back home who were looking for something entertaining to watch, and I’m glad we could provide that for them.
The team said, “There was a really great opportunity to come here and be a positive thing that L.A. could hold onto, a moment of happiness and energy that takes people’s minds off the chaos of the world around them and everything that’s going on outside right now.”
I think there was a responsibility that guys felt to put their best foot forward,” Kupp said. “You go out through the tunnel and that weight hits you right in the face. These people are here and the enthusiasm they’re bringing, the atmosphere they’re creating, you want to make the most of that.
The ability to play with focus despite the tough week, Stafford said, is thanks to coach Sean McVay’s leadership. McVay thought the way the team played on Monday – “to stay connected, to stay together, just to fight, the spirit, the resilience” – “perfectly represented” and “represented the city the right way.”
“You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together, offer a little bit of temporary escape, and I think the way that our team competed tonight was exactly what it looked like,” McVay said.
The game in Arizona was made to feel like a home game for the Rams, with their end zones painted blue and yellow. The team’s scoreboards featured matching graphics and a giant blue sign that read, “THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.” Additionally, the Rams displayed a large “LA TOGETHER” banner during a pregame performance.
Los Angeles arranged for charter buses to and from SoFi Stadium for the game, ultimately resulting in around 30 buses and 1,500 season-ticket members.
We absolutely love the incredible amount of support we received from our fans today,” Stafford said. “There really aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for that.
On Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time in the NFC divisional round.
