Matthew Stafford: I’m proud of this group and the way we fought back

After starting the season 1-4, the Rams won nine of their 11 games following their bye in Week 6 and started Week 18 at 10-6.

With the club on the verge of securing the NFC West next weekend, either with an assist or a win, quarterback Matthew Stafford said after Saturday’s win over the Cardinals that he doesn’t want to get too far into hypotheticals about which it would mean winning the division.

“But I’m really proud of this group, sitting here and doing this at 1-4,” Stafford said. “I still have to play a lot more football and earn a lot more.” But we deserve the chance to be where we are. And whatever that is, that’s at the end of the weekend.

“But I’m proud of this group and the way we fought back. A lot of people doubt us, a lot of people write us off at 1-4, and the fact that we can sit here with our record right now is what I am, I’m proud of this group.”

Los Angeles has relied heavily on its defense in recent weeks and did so again on Saturday as Stafford finished the contest 17 of 32 for 189 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. But the Rams have largely played clean football over the past two months, suffering just one loss since Week 13 and just two losses since Week 11.

In 16 games this year, Stafford has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.