NFL fans divided over Matthew Stafford's controversial incomplete pass vs. Vikings - "It's all rigged for LA"; "That’s intentional grounding" 

Fans were not happy with an official call favoring Matthew Stafford in the final Wild Card game of 2024, as the Los Angeles Rams took on the Minnesota Vikings. The NFC West champions came out firing and scored a touchdown on their opening drive, followed by a field goal on their second possession.

However, the Vikings' defense eventually established some control over proceedings. They thought they had the first turnover of the game when Matthew Stafford lost the ball while being tackled in the offensive backfield, but Minnesota recovered the ball to take it back into the endzone.

That would have been a momentum-turning score, and initially, the touchdown was awarded. However, on review, it was clear that Matthew Stafford was trying to throw the ball forward. Since Puka Nacua was in the area, it was also not ruled as intentional grounding. Hence, what could have been a fumble recovery for six points merely became an incomplete pass. It did not register as a sack, and the Rams did not lose yards.

Many fans on X/Twitter did not agree with the call. They felt that the Los Angeles wide receiver was not close to receiving the ball and it should have been intentional grounding.

Here are some of the reactions.

However, the reactions were not unanimous as others pointed out that it was a forward pass as per rule and it seemed as if the Rams quarterback knew what he was doing. Here are some posts advocating that viewpoint.

"Stafford knew what he was doing. That’s a forward pass by rule all day." - said one.

"He legit passed it lmao no one made him fumble anything" - added another.

"You could definitely tell it’s a shovel.. ball landed at Puka’s feet. Incomplete pass" - concurred a third.

Matthew Stafford's experience shows as Rams defense sack Vikings QB for TD

Matthew Stafford's experience was palpable in that play. The same could not be said about his Vikings' counterpart, Sam Darnold. In the second quarter, he held on to the ball a bit too long and was strip-sacked. The Rams recovered the ball for a touchdown as the Minnesota quarterback did not release the ball before being tackled.

It made it a two-score game and looked like the turning point in the Wild Card matchup. It forced Minnesota to try and go for it on their next fourth down, which Los Angeles stopped to come up with their own touchdown drive to take a 21-point lead into halftime.