Kelly Stafford, host of “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank” podcast and wife of former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, hoped for a Lions-Los Angeles Rams rematch in the NFL wild-card round — but had mixed feelings about it.
She discussed playoff scenarios on a “Timeout” episode of her podcast, noting the potential matchup had the Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, which would have sent them to face the Rams on the road Monday night.
The Rams beat the Vikings 30-20 earlier in the season but lost to Detroit 26-20 in the opener, adding intrigue to a possible rematch.
“I wanted Detroit because we didn’t beat them,” Stafford explained. “And I think it’s easier to split games than to beat someone twice.”
If the Rams win Monday, a meeting with the Lions could still happen in the divisional round or conference championship.
Matthew Stafford, who played 12 years for the Lions before being traded to the Rams in 2021, led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl win. In exchange, the Lions received Jared Goff and two first-round picks, reshaping their team.
The Stafford-Goff trade narrative resurfaces whenever they play. Matthew returned to Ford Field for last year’s wild-card game, which the Lions won 24-23, leaving him 0-2 there with the Rams.
The Staffords have revisited Detroit multiple times for their nonprofit SAY Detroit but believe the NFL favored a Lions-Rams storyline in the wild card.
“They probably wanted the Lions to lose and come to us,” she said. “It’s the same tired story. Everyone’s over it.”
Kelly said her husband is prepared if the matchup happens but expects the narrative to resurface: “He’s like, it’ll be Jared versus Matthew again.”
“Haven’t we played this card enough?” she added.
Kelly attended last year’s wild-card game in Detroit, where she enjoyed reconnecting with Lions staff but criticized some fans for booing her while she was with her kids at Ford Field. She later addressed the incident on her podcast.
Now, she may face another return to Detroit.
“Oh God, why does this always f—— happen?” she asked.
Would she go?
“I don’t know. Probably,” she admitted. “I don’t want to.”
