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Matthew Stafford looked the part of an MVP in the Los Angeles Rams‘ 42-26 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. While he can’t win the award quite yet, Stafford was able to take home a different trophy for his play against the 49ers.
The Rams’ quarterback won Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game for Week 10 thanks to his latest stellar performance, completing 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns. Stafford also helped the Rams get out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, and Los Angeles’ defense played with a two-score lead for nearly the entire game thanks to the quarterback.
As Stafford’s numbers might not have set any records, he looked in complete command and control of Sunday’s game. In fact, Stafford made some vintage Stafford plays, making a sidearm completion to running back Kyren Williams at one point and throwing a no-look touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the fourth quarter.
The elder quarterback also found a way to relate himself to the youths.
“You did it all today — sidearm throws, no looks and I saw the TikTok dance,” Brady remarked in his conversation with Stafford.
Adding to Stafford’s day, his second touchdown pass of the game was his 400th of his career, making him the ninth quarterback in NFL history to reach that mark. He capped it off by leaving his head coach, Sean McVay, hanging on a high-five during a celebration as he ran around the field.
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: Rams QB Matthew Stafford 🏆
Beyond forgetting how to celebrate with the head coach, it felt like the Rams couldn’t do anything wrong on Sunday, leading Brady to remark that they’re the NFL’s best offensive and defensive team during the broadcast. So, Brady wondered, what can the Rams actually do better?
“I think we can get better a little bit on third down,” Stafford said. “I missed one today. I had [Terrance Ferguson] on an opportunity to be an enormous one. They actually had no put up participant on the again of the protection. So, all these you need again. However you simply proceed to lean into not turning the ball over, being explosive, being environment friendly, scoring within the pink zone and doing all these sorts of issues to proceed to get higher and higher in all of these phases for us.”
As Stafford lamented the missed third-down throw to Ferguson late within the first half, the Rams really had a fairly good third-down day. They transformed 5 of 8 makes an attempt. They entered the day eleventh in third-down conversion price, although, at 41%. So, they may stand to enhance there transferring ahead, even when they did on Sunday.
Nonetheless, it is powerful to search out the fly within the ointment for the Rams as they improved to 7-2 on Sunday. Merely put, the Rams are rolling — and Stafford is aware of it.
“It has been nice,” Stafford stated of the Rams’ offensive efficiency on Sunday. “We have been mixing personnels. Doing a fantastic job of that, getting out and in of 13, 12 and all of it. Once we can do this, I really feel actually snug. Our guys are making performs. I am simply completely happy to be part of it. It is a lot enjoyable once you get to orchestrate a drive and also you’re out and in of personnel — 13, 11, 12 or no matter it’s. So, it has been loads of enjoyable.”
A number of of the anticipated playmakers contributed to the Rams’ win on Sunday. Puka Nacua had 5 catches for 64 yards and a landing, turning a display cross right into a 22-yard rating. Davante Adams had six receptions for 77 yards, and Williams rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
However the Rams’ 4 tight ends (Parkinson, Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen) all contributed as effectively, combining for 10 receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns. With the tight ends contributing, Stafford feels that he is capable of dictate the motion by means of play-action passes.
“That is the recipe for fulfillment for us,” Stafford stated. “We have performed a pleasant job of that. The blokes up entrance have performed a hell of a job defending. And we have got guys on the surface that may make performs. Each Davante and Puka had nice video games at the moment [and] all of our tight ends. After they’re dropping out of there, checking it all the way down to our backs have been getting a bunch of yards as effectively. It has been a bunch of enjoyable for us.”
These contributions added to Stafford’s league-best stats. He prolonged his lead in landing passes along with his efficiency on Sunday, throwing for 25 this season. He entered the day main the league in passing yards per recreation as effectively (268.4).
So, in some way, Stafford is discovering a technique to play the very best soccer of his profession as he nears 40. He is additionally doing it after coping with a coaching camp filled with harm issues.
But when Stafford continues to play the way in which that he has, possibly we’ll see him for a bit longer. Brady is actually anticipating it.
“You are solely 37, so you’ve got received at the very least one other eight years to play,” Brady quipped to Stafford. “I am unable to wait to observe all of them.”
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