Matthew Stafford Tries to Keep Focus on NFL Playoffs Amid Devastating LA Wildfires: “New Fire is Popping Up…”

Wildfires have engulfed the metropolitan of Los Angeles and surrounding areas, causing mayhem and immense destruction to over 30,000 acres of land. The Los Angeles Rams, who are right in the middle of this crisis, have been trying to focus on football through it all. With so much turmoil happening around, Matthew Stafford couldn’t help but talk about the disastrous circumstances ahead of their Wild Card game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Rams QB pointed out that the fires have been hard to contain with new ones popping up every day.

“There’s a lot going on. Once we get into the building, it’s football all the time. We understand that. But at the same time, we’re human beings and there’s stuff going on outside. There are new fires kind of popping up at any moment,” Stafford said on the Rich Eisen Show.

The 36-year-old star, wife Kelly and their four children, live in a property worth over $28 million in Hidden Hills. They also own the house next doors too, which was bought by the couple for $10.5 million in 2022.

The fire started in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, spreading further, with five different fires wreaking havoc in different parts of LA. The fire department has evacuated over 150k people, with more than 10,000 structures, including homes and businesses destroyed so far. The death toll stands at 11, and is expected to rise.

Kelly Stafford reacts to LA Wildfires. pic.twitter.com/028JpTS1lC

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Kelly also took to social media to share the pictures of the fires and the devastation they have caused.

“Watching this over and over because it doesn’t seem real. These fires still rage with firefighters working around the clock. praying for slower winds and safety,” she wrote.

The NFL moved the Jan. 13 Wild Card playoff game between the Rams and the Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Stafford has been trying to keep his focus on the game at hand amid the devastation back home.

The Rams won 30-20 against Minnesota in week 8. But the Vikings enter the Wild Card game as 2.5 points favorites thanks to the consistency they have shown throughout the season with just three losses. However, the Vikings have not won a playoff game in seven seasons.

Meanwhile, Sean McVay knows how to get results in the postseason, and the Rams have more experience. That should be an advantage for Stafford and Co.