The Los Angeles Rams benched Matthew Stafford in favor of a new starter for the game’s final stretch.

The Los Angeles Rams benched Matthew Stafford in favor of a new starter for the game’s final stretch.

In the season finale this week versus the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Rams will bench starting quarterback Matthew Stafford in favor of primary backup Carson Wentz. Three days after his team was guaranteed a postseason berth, Rams coach Sean McVay made the announcement on Wednesday.

Wentz will be making his first start since his last game wearing a Washington Commanders uniform on January 2, 2023. Wentz played a brief role in mop-up duty during the Rams’ 37-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on November 26 of this season.

Stafford is sitting with the Rams even though they could drop from sixth to seventh in the NFC. The Rams (9-7) will be the seventh seed in the playoffs if they lose to the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers win against the visiting Chicago Bears.

During the course of the season, Stafford, 35, has thrown for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He only missed one game because of an injury, which was a 20-3 loss to Green Bay in Week 9. Brett Rypien was selected by the Rams for that game and was cut two days later.

On November 7, the Rams signed Wentz on the same day. After four years and four teams, Wentz will start for the fourth time. As a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles (2016–20), Indianapolis Colts (2021), and Commanders (2022), the 31-year-old has a lifetime record of 46–45-1. He has thrown for 22,129 yards, 151 touchdowns, and 66 interceptions.