After Jared Goff and the Lions knocked off Matthew Stafford and the Rams for the Lions' first playoff win in 32 years, Stafford had a simple message for Goff when the two teams convened at midfield: Go win it all.
And Goff had a simple message for Stafford: Nothing but respect.
"Hey man, congratulations," Stafford told Goff after the Lions' 24-23 win over the Rams in the wild-card round last Sunday night, in an exchange captured by NFL Films. "Go fu**ing win it all, buddy!"
Goff later found Stafford again in the horde of players and told him, "You're one tough SOB, alright? I have so much fu**ing respect for you. Keep going."
"I appreciate you, brother," said Stafford. "Hey, good luck, man. You guys are balling. Keep it going."
The Lions intend to do that. And Stafford, who just finished his 15th season, missed the second half of last season with a neck/spine injury and turns 36 next month, intends to keep going himself.
Asked after the game if he will be back next season, Stafford, who has three years and $120 million remaining on his contract, said, "That’s my plan right now. Yeah, my plan is to be back and you’re going to have to deal with me for another year, so have fun with that.”