The mantra in the NFL playoffs is simply, “survive and advance,” regardless of whether or not you pass the eye test doing so.<\/p>\n
On the road as heavy favorites, the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> simply survived their own mistakes. Sean McVay’s team will have plenty to clean up before the divisional round, but a touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson in the final minute saved the day for L.A.<\/p>\n OMG STAFFORD TO PARKINSON FOR THE LEAD!<\/p>\n LARvsCAR on FOX\/FOX One \u2014 NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n For Stafford, performing under that kind of pressure was nothing new.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at how Stafford added to his legacy with a 54th game-winning drive.<\/p>\n MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:<\/p>\n Matthew Stafford game-winning drives\u00a0<\/p>\n Stafford leads all active quarterbacks with 50 career game-winning drives in the regular season and a combined 54 between the regular season and playoffs.<\/p>\n Here’s a breakdown of his game-winning drives by season:<\/p>\n SeasonReg. seasonPlayoffs200910201010201140201230201330201450201530201680201740201810201910202040202143202200202320202450202511<\/p>\n Stafford only had one game-winning drive in the regular season, partly because the Rams controlled so many games, but he added another when it mattered most in Carolina.<\/p>\n MORE: Inside Puka Nacua’s big game vs. Panthers<\/a><\/p>\n Matthew Stafford playoff game-winning drives<\/p>\n Saturday’s game might have made Rams fans question whether Stafford and L.A. can go all the way to the Super Bowl, but it’s easy to forget their championship four years ago didn’t exactly come easily.<\/p>\n Stafford led a game-winning drive in three of the Rams’ four playoff wins in 2021, doing so in all but their wild-card round win over the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at each of Stafford’s game-winning drives in the playoffs:<\/p>\n SeasonRoundOpponentScore before GWD2021DivisionalBuccaneersTied 27-272021NFC Championship49ersTied 17-172021Super BowlBengalsTrailing 20-162025Wild-cardPanthersTrailing 31-27<\/p>\n Stafford’s two game-winning drives while trailing in the playoffs came in Super Bowl 56 against the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> and on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stream on @NFLPlus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qLSKKdmoBO<\/a><\/p>\n