4th-quarter field goal sends Rams into the Super Bowl over Niners,

Matthew Stafford never won a playoff game in 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions.

Freed from Detroit last offseason, the 33-year-old quarterback's first season with the Los Angeles Rams will conclude in the Super Bowl.

Stafford's desire to play for a winning team reached new heights on Sunday night as Matt Gay's 30-yard field goal with 1:46 remaining gave Los Angeles a 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at Inglewood, Calif.

It will be the Rams' second Super Bowl appearance in four seasons, with the first in that span coming with Jared Goff at quarterback. Goff was sent to the Lions in the deal for Stafford.

"You can't write this story any better," Stafford said after Sunday's game. "I'm at a loss for words. I'm just having a blast playing ball with these guys and, shoot, we have one more at the home stadium."

That's true. Los Angeles will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on February 13th at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game earlier Sunday.

The Super Bowl appearance will be the fifth in franchise history for the Rams -- two coming when the franchise was located in St. Louis.

Los Angeles lost 13-3 to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl after the 2018 season.

BACK AT THE CRIB. pic.twitter.com/Sxvh3iTp93

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022

Rams coach Sean McVay made it known the return trip wasn't because of him.

"The players pulled it off," McVay said. "I love this group. We got one more ... I'm so proud of these players."

Stafford completed 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

"I have the opportunity to be in a game that I've always wanted to play in," Stafford said of