The scoreboard at SoFi Stadium read Los Angeles Rams 31, Cowboys 21, but the most telling play of the night didn’t happen between the whistles.
After a sluggish preseason showing from Dallas — just one yard of offense in the first quarter, 11 penalties, and a hole too deep for backups to climb out of — Dak Prescott lingered on the field. He hadn’t suited up, still easing back from the torn hamstring that ended his 2024 season in Week 9. But in a brief postgame exchange with Rams owner Stan Kroenke, he made his own kind of headline:
“We’ll meet y’all in the NFC Championship.”
Dak Prescott Calls His Shot — And The Los Angeles Rams’ Road Back Rests on Matthew Stafford’s Health
Get your Puka-Flex T-Shirt Here
This wasn’t just small talk. For a quarterback with a 2–5 playoff record and a franchise still chasing its first NFC title game appearance since 1995, it was a bold declaration — one that Prescott has earned the confidence to make.
From fourth-round pick to Offensive Rookie of the Year, from league leader in touchdown passes in 2023 to Walter Payton Man of the Year, Prescott has built a career on defying the odds. “Nobody wants to win more than me,” he’s said. “I would bet on myself any day.”
Now he’s betting on his team, too — and betting that the Rams will be the ones standing across from them when the NFC crown is on the line.
Why the Rams’ Path Runs Through Matthew Stafford’s Back
That second half of Prescott’s prediction is just as intriguing. The Rams may have handled Dallas in August, but January football is another animal — and their road back to the NFC Championship hinges on Matthew Stafford’s health.
Stafford, 36, missed most of training camp with an aggravated disk in his back, the kind of injury that can derail a season before it starts. On Saturday morning, hours before the preseason win over Dallas, he offered a glimpse of hope, throwing 68 passes in a workout that included deep shots, intermediate routes, and pocket movement. Head coach Sean McVay called the session sharp and suggested Stafford would be ready if the regular season were already underway.
For the Rams, that readiness is non-negotiable. They’ve seen promise elsewhere — rookie QB Stetson Bennett looked poised, Blake Corum cemented himself as RB2 with two touchdowns, and receiver Xavier Smith flashed game-breaking speed. But the difference between a playoff cameo and a deep run still rests with Stafford’s ability to stay upright and deliver in the biggest moments.
Two Teams, One Goal
Dallas still has work to do before Prescott’s words can materialize. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t sugarcoating the preseason sloppiness, calling discipline and execution “non-negotiables” going forward. The Cowboys’ starters have yet to find their regular-season rhythm, and August mistakes can snowball if not fixed.
For the Rams, the questions are different — less about chemistry, more about durability. If Stafford can manage his back through the grind, Los Angeles has the offensive structure and defensive playmakers to challenge anyone in the conference. The team also has plenty of confidence in backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
So, if these two teams do meet in the NFC Championship, this night in Inglewood will be remembered less for the penalties and missed assignments, and more for a quarterback’s quiet but audacious message. Prescott wasn’t just talking to Stan Kroenke. He was talking to the entire NFC.
And if Matthew Stafford’s back holds up, Kroenke’s Rams might just be there to answer.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Rams YouTube Channel