Matthew Stafford is leading the Rams’ resurgence, keeping their NFC West title hopes alive
When the Los Angeles Rams started 1-4, many began to write them off—just as they did last year when they started 3-6. At times, the Rams didn’t look good. While they just needed to get healthy, there was always the concern that they might get healthy too little too late. That may still be the case. However, heading into Week 12, the Rams are back at .500 and are right in the thick of the race for the NFC West title.
The Rams have certainly gotten healthier, but a big reason for their comeback has been the play of Matthew Stafford. Since the bye week, Stafford has thrown 10 touchdowns to three interceptions. To put that in perspective, he had just three touchdown passes before the bye week. For the second time in four games, Stafford has thrown four or more touchdown passes in a game.
As Dan Graziano of ESPN wrote:
“Stafford and the Rams flew across the country to play an early-window Sunday game the week after playing on Monday night, and they rolled over a Patriots defense that people keep insisting to me is better than we all think. Stafford was 18-for-27 for 297 yards and four touchdown passes, his second game this season with four TD throws. He was also 7-of-11 for 177 yards and three touchdowns on passes of at least 10 air yards. The Rams have won four of their past five after a 1-4 start and are right in the mix in the four-team NFC West race…Stafford and the Rams look primed for another second-half run and perhaps another surprise postseason appearance.”
Over the past five weeks, Stafford ranks seventh in EPA per play at 0.162, and his success rate of 52.8 percent ranks second behind only Lamar Jackson. Stafford has a “hero throw” percentage of 7.5 percent, which ranks fourth. Those are throws in which a quarterback makes a play that maximizes the result of the pass. He also has the fifth-most big-time throws via PFF over the past five games.
There is still reason for skepticism about the Rams making a run over the final seven games of the season. However, after a slow start, Stafford has started to find his rhythm, and both his pass catchers and offensive line are finally healthy. We’ll see what happens over the final stretch, but Stafford deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround since the bye week—once again.
