Matthew Stafford Reacts to Los Angeles Rams' Cooper Kupp's Drops in Week 7 Loss
If there’s one thing the Los Angeles Rams can depend on offensively, it’s that when healthy, quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp are going to be on the same page.
Knocked off-schedule by injuries at various points in their respective Rams careers, the two have managed to remain one of the league’s most lethal combinations.
In 2021, Kupp won the receiving triple crown with 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 scores. His next season would be cut short to just nine games, but his 75 catches and 812 yards resembled a repeat performance.
Stafford targeting Kupp at SoFi Stadium.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
This season, Kupp found his campaign delayed at the mercy of a lingering hamstring issue, missing Los Angeles’ first four games. The Rams went 2-2.
As expected, Kupp returned in dominant fashion. His first two games saw at least nine targets, seven catches, and 118 yards—each. Not too shabby.
However, Sunday was a different story. For the first time since Week 3 of last season, Kupp finished a game both healthy and with less than 50 receiving yards to his name.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he posted a measly two catches on seven targets, complete with 29 yards and a successful two-point conversion. It was his worst game of the season, and Los Angeles managed to score only 17 points, losing 24-17.
Stafford reacted to Kupp’s surprisingly mild performance.
“I’m not worried about that at all, to be honest with you,” Stafford said. “I’ve got total trust in everybody that’s running out there and trying to get open for me.”
Kupp found himself in the highlight reel but had uncharacteristic drops that hindered drives and—to some extent—lost the Rams a pivotal mid-season game.
Now at 3-4 and 1.5 games back of second place in the NFC West, there’s blood in the water. A very good Dallas Cowboys team will host them next week in a game that could make or break such an inexperienced roster’s season.
Stafford, though, remains confident in his superstar receiver. He too has made some costly mistakes, despite a strong start to the year.
“They’re doing everything they can … those things are going to happen,” Stafford said. “He was open a couple times two weeks ago against the Eagles and I missed him so it’s part of it.
“It’s not going to be a perfect game. I’m proud of the way he bounced back and got involved.”
Los Angeles turned to newfound star receiver Puka Nacua to fill the void of Kupp’s typical production. The rookie was stellar, generating 154 yards on eight receptions.
As long as one of them continues to step up, the passing offense will be fine. When they’re both firing on all cylinders, though, there are few offenses in the league tougher to stop. They’ll look to rebound against the Cowboys in Week 8.
