Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford didn't have to think long to explain Monday's upset of the Minnesota Vikings in Glendale, Arizona.
Displaced by the Palisades Fire and lingering smoke that has caused dangerous levels of air quality in Los Angeles, the Rams were playing for a grieving city still emerging from the rubble.
“Unlike anything I've experienced in my time in the NFL,” Stafford told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt. 'We just know what's going on at home. (We) feel really motivated to play for the people of this city. It's been an incredible week. We're happy to come out with a win.
“Honestly, it's hard to understand the devastation,” he continued. “I'm like a lot of people around the country: I watch the news and see these houses reduced to rubble and firefighters doing everything they can to try to combat it.
'Living in those conditions, knowing what that wind felt like, was incredible. “I'm proud of the community, proud of the city for the response and I hope they're proud of us for the way we played tonight.”
More than 90,000 people remained displaced Monday, seven days after multiple wind-driven fires broke out. At least 24 people have died and thousands have been left homeless, and authorities warned that winds forecast to intensify again on Tuesday could lead to “extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions.”
Matthew Stafford of the LA Rams looks on after the game against the Minnesota Vikings
Palisades Fire ravages neighborhood amid high winds along Los Angeles' Pacific coast
Those who were able to get to the game at the Arizona Cardinals' stadium, a six-hour drive east of Los Angeles, were rewarded with a stunning upset over a 14-3 Vikings team that, until recently, looked like a Super Bowl contender.
When asked if the rising Rams can help unite the city during a difficult time, Stafford said he sees it as an opportunity.
“You never want a tragedy to force you to come together and do all that,” Stafford said.
'To be able to make the playoffs and have this opportunity to come here and play in front of an incredible crowd, a group of blue players that we appreciated a lot during the week that we're going through and they showed up for us and made it loud.'
Stafford explained things more precisely during his post-game press conference.
“There were definitely every excuse possible to come here and be lethargic and woe is me and all that, but we knew we weren't just playing for ourselves,” Stafford said. “Playing for people at home who needed something to watch and enjoy and I'm glad we were able to give it to them.”
Stafford also played Monday with two of his four children in the hospital. It's unclear if the situation is related to the Los Angeles fires or air quality in the city, but his wife Kelly has posted some updates on social media.
Earlier this week, Kelly had suggested that she and her daughters might move out of the family home to protect her husband from illness ahead of the playoffs.
“I can't think straight, I currently think I have the flu,” he said on the Jan. 7 episode of his Morning After podcast. “Two of my daughters have the flu.”
The quarterback's wife, Kelly, shared a photo of two of their daughters in a hospital bed.
Matthew Stafford's daughters were hospitalized after making the trip to Arizona this weekend.
He also revealed that he felt like he couldn't move while attending the Rams' game against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend.
“I passed out on a small bench in the suite,” he explained. 'We had all our friends in town and I was a real disappointment. The body pains are serious.
“If all my children have the flu, I don't think we should be in this house with him,” he added, referring to the interlocutor.
Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Rams (11-7) looked comfortable from the first play. LA drove a touchdown on the first drive and built a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“I thought they personified and represented the city in the right way,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together and offer a little temporary relief. I thought the way our team competed tonight was what it seemed like.”
The game was moved to suburban Phoenix, nearly 400 miles east of the Rams' home in Inglewood, California, in part because public safety resources were needed to deal with wildfires. Los Angeles' next game will be Sunday on the East Coast against the Philadelphia Eagles.