Matthew Stafford spent the first 12 seasons of his career in football purgatory with the Detroit Lions, a middling team that was unable to take full advantage and make the best use of his well-above-average talents. In their three trips to the playoffs, the Lions were bounced in the wild-card round each time.
Fortunately for Stafford, the Lions granted him a new lease on life last winter, in a blockbuster deal with the championship-or-bust Los Angeles Rams. And over the past six months, the 34-year-old has reshaped his entire legacy and reached new heights. Stafford is just one victory away from capturing his first Lombardi Trophy, and Lions legendary running back Barry Sanders hopes that he delivers under the brightest of lights.
"I know I speak for a lot of Detroit fans in that, we feel a little bit a part of this. He provided us with so many great moments," Sanders told the Maggie and Perloff show on Thursday. "I've loved seeing him in the situation where he's been able to thrive, able to answer a lot of questions about the kind of player he is, the caliber of quarterback he is. He must feel good about what he's been able to accomplish, and surrounded by.
"Now we get a chance to see, 'OK, who is this guy, really?' He's been one of the best players in the league this year and has a chance to win a Super Bowl. So, I'm thrilled for him. I think he responds well [to the pressure]. This is what he's been waiting for and dreaming about. I think he's ready for the moment... He's in the perfect situation, surrounded by a great team and coach. I think it's kind of set up for him."
In his first season with Los Angeles, Stafford amassed 4,886 passing yards -- the third-highest mark of his career -- along with 41 touchdowns and 17 picks. He also helped produce a historic campaign from elite receiver Cooper Kupp, who became just the fourth player to achieve the receiving triple crown since the league's 1966 merger.
Two weeks ago, in the NFC championship game, Stafford orchestrated three fourth-quarter scoring drives for 13 unanswered points to defeat the division rival San Francisco 49ers, 20-17. Prior to the game, the Rams were a ghastly 0-14 under head coach Sean McVay when trailing by 10-plus points entering the fourth quarter.
Super Bowl 56 between the favored Rams and underdog Cincinnati Bengals is scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 ET on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. According to FiveThirtyEight projections, Los Angeles currently has a 68-percent chance to celebrate its first championship since 1999.
The entire football conversation between Sanders and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.