Matthew Stafford: Important for the Rams to enter the playoffs in good form

• NFL

Sean McVay has coached the Los Angeles Rams to another playoff appearance as the Rams secured a postseason berth following a 30-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings. McVay has been the Rams' coach for five years and this will be the team's fourth playoff appearance during the McVay era.

"It's one step," McVay said after the game, per ESPN. "To be able to get into the playoffs, it's something you never take for granted." Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is playing his first season with the Rams, thinks it's important for the Rams to enter the playoffs in good form.

"We've obviously guaranteed ourselves a spot," said quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will be making his first playoff appearance since 2016. "Would love to make that spot as good as we can make it from here on out and control where we sit in the seedings, and I think it's important to go into it playing good football."

Stafford struggled but the Rams won

Stafford threw one touchdown pass and had three interceptions but the Rams still managed to escape with a win.

"I think what says as much about Matthew Stafford as anything is it wasn't perfect, I put him in some bad spots, but in some key crunch-time known-passing situations, he delivered in a big way," McVay said, noting a key third-down, 6-yard touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr.

in the fourth quarter, followed by another third-down, 37-yard completion to receiver Cooper Kupp that eventually led to a field goal and put the game out of reach, 30-20, with 6:18 to play. Stafford admitted he needs to play better but added he was glad the Rams escaped with a win.

"Less than spectacular in the pass game," Stafford said. "Three turnovers is going to hurt us in a lot of games, so it's nice to come out with a win, no doubt about that. But I can play better. We can play better." Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp continued hit outstanding season on Sunday as he caught 10 balls on 13 targets for 109 yards.

"I'm just glad we won the game, and at the end of the day I just want to execute my job over and over again," said Kupp, who leads the NFL in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. "A game like today, a lot of my responsibility was helping out in the run game and be able to get hands on defensive ends and work my way to linebackers ... my job is to execute whatever is asked of me."