Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford Makes History During Regular Season
While the talking heads on ESPN and the analytics gurus on Twitter are busy screaming at each other about who deserves the league MVP, Matthew Stafford is just happy to be here. Literally.
After a 2025 season that saw the 37-year-old gunslinger throw for a career-high 46 touchdowns and lead the NFL in passing yards, you’d think his preseason checklist was filled with ambitious milestones. When asked on Sunday what his primary goal was heading into his 17th NFL season, Stafford delivered the kind of dry, self-deprecating humor that only a veteran who has taken thousands of hits can muster.
“Make it to Week 1,” Stafford said. “S— I was just hoping I did that. We got there, and we just held on for dear life. That’s where I was to be honest with you.”
Stafford’s Survival Mode Turns Into Dominance
It’s easy to laugh at the quote now, considering the Rams finished 12-5 and secured a playoff berth, but he wasn’t exactly joking. The offseason was a medical drama. Dealing with a lingering back injury that wiped out his training camp and preseason, Stafford spent more time in a “rejuvenation chamber” than on the practice field. There were changing timelines, hushed whispers about retirement, and genuine concern that the Rams’ window had slammed shut.
Instead, Stafford went full Benjamin Button. He didn’t just survive; he thrived. In Week 18, he torched the Arizona Cardinals for four touchdowns, a performance that not only solidified the Rams’ playoff positioning but also moved him past the legendary Dan Marino for seventh on the all-time passing touchdowns list. Passing Marino is the kind of stuff you tell your grandkids about, but Stafford seems more focused on the ice bath waiting for him in the locker room.
The MVP Debate He Doesn’t Care About
The narrative right now pits the old guard against the new blood. It is Stafford versus Patriots sensation Drake Maye. Maye has the shiny new stats and the “youngest MVP ever” narrative working for him. But Stafford has the context. As Dan Orlovsky pointed out on The Pat McAfee Show, you have to look at who these guys played. While Maye feasted on a softer schedule, the Rams QB navigated the sixth-toughest schedule in the league.
Despite a rough Week 17 outing against the Falcons that saw him throw three picks, Stafford bounced back immediately. He didn’t sulk; he just went out and hung four scores on a division rival the next week.
Bigger Fish To Fry
If you’re expecting Stafford to campaign for the award, don’t hold your breath. When asked if he thought he made a strong case for the hardware, he shrugged it off with typical humility.
“I got bigger fish to fry at the moment,” Stafford said. “This is an award that is earned by everybody… I’m just trying to do as best I can.”
Those “bigger fish” are the Carolina Panthers, whom the Rams are set to face in the playoffs. It’s a revenge game for a loss a month ago, and Stafford knows that Super Bowl rings fit a lot better than MVP trophies.
