'He's Our Guy': Matthew Stafford Shows Shades Of 2021 In Rams Win vs. Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looked like he had one pretty tall glass from the Fountain of Youth Sunday.
Stafford eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark for the 58th time in his NFL career and the most he has thrown for in a game since a 28-19 win against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 24, 2021. The 15-year NFL veteran commanded the Rams' offense from the start, pacing the unit to a second-half charge in a 30-13 statement win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.
Like a professional who's done it at the highest level, Stafford's not ready to take a victory lap just yet.
"I felt pretty good," Stafford said. "It's never 100-percent clean, and there's things after I watch the tape I'm sure I'm going to want back both fundamentally and result of the play as well. It was a good start."
On the first drive, head coach Sean McVay was committed to the run, putting the ball on the ground six of Los Angeles' first seven plays. As the drive went on, though, McVay put the ball in his Super-Bowl-winning quarterback's hands more and more.
Stafford showed the poise a savvy veteran should possess on third down, completing each of his first three passes to pick up a third-and-4, third-and-10 and another third-and-4. After a penalty backed the Rams up to Seattle's 17-yard line, a 16-yard completion to wide receiver Puka Nacua set up Los Angeles' first touchdown.
One of Stafford's better throws didn't have any outcome in the game.
With 22 seconds to go in the first half facing a third-and-10, the Seahawks dialed up a blitz with linebacker Bobby Wagner. Stafford stood in the face of pressure and delivered a side-armed throw through traffic to a sliding Tutu Atwell for an 11-yard gain.
Stafford, obviously, had plenty of other throws that had big implications on the final score, both of which came on — you guessed it — third downs.
The first was a 44-yard bomb down the field, hitting Atwell in stride which led to Williams' second touchdown run of the game. The next was a post pattern to Nacua on a 21-yard pitch-and-catch to the sidelines, helping set up a 54-yard field goal by kicker Brett Maher.
Stafford was without his favorite target, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. That arguably makes his performance against the Seahawks even more impressive.
He was able to elevate the level of play of his non-All-Pro receivers, something that all the all-time greats — Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees — are able to do.
Atwell had career-highs with six receptions and 119 yards. Meanwhile, Nacua had Kupp-like numbers, hauling in 10 passes also for 119 yards in his NFL debut.
Stafford finished 24-for-38 for 334 yards and, despite not throwing a touchdown pass, his 88.9 QBR was the second-best mark of all NFL quarterbacks who have taken the field so far in Week 1.
"He's our guy, and he played like the guy that we all know and love," McVay said. "I'm sure happy to be able to see him out there compete the way he is with his teammates, and he elevates everybody."
