Matthew Stafford gets first career NFL playoff win as LA Rams blow out Arizona Cardinals

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 0928 GMT (1728 HKT) January 18, 2022

Matthew Stafford walks off the field after defeating the Arizona Cardinals.

(CNN)NFL veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford got his first career playoff victory on Monday night as the Los Angeles Rams comfortably beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-11.

Stafford, who is in his first season with the Rams after spending his first 12 with the Detroit Lions, threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another in the final game of NFL Super Wild Card weekend. Superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who signed midway through the season after leaving the Cleveland Browns, caught his first career playoff touchdown, while also throwing a 40-yard pass on a trick play to set up the Rams' fourth touchdown. Rams receiver Cooper Kupp continued his excellent season with a touchdown catch as well as 61 yards receiving. The Rams raced into a 28-0 lead in the first playoff game at SoFi Stadium, the site of Super Bowl 56 next month. Read MoreAfter the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay praised the play of Stafford upon his first career playoff victory. «I thought he did a great job leading the way,» McVay said. «He's still the same great player to me, and he always was before this game. I think it's good so you guys don't have to talk about that anymore. So pleased be able to do this with him. He's our leader out there, and we wouldn't be here without him.»Stafford looks to pass against the Cardinals.The clash was the first NFL playoff game to be held on a Monday since 1988 and the first ever to be held on MLK Day. While the Rams offense was purring throughout, their defense as a whole might have been the MVP on the night. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was under constant