This is why the Rams fired for Matthew Stafford.
The quarterback made his worth very clear Monday night, with his team missing four starters due to positive COVID tests.
Stafford, in the crucible of State Farm Stadium, facing the fiery Arizona Cardinals, put up a brilliant performance in a game that could easily have been a hefty loss.
In their 30-23 win, an iconic win for the franchise, the Rams shattered several myths.
Like that one that the squad is too loaded with high-level players or that the team lacks depth. This was a triumph for the understudies: Sony Michel, Joe Noteboom, Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins, Marquise Copeland, David Long …
What about Stafford’s inability to win a big game? Another myth destroyed.
He landed a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp through a hole the size of a mouse den, and later delivered an over his shoulder pass to Kupp that appeared to have been thrown by a drone.
Matthew Stafford signals to Rams teammates at the line of scrimmage in an NFC West game against the Cardinals. Stafford finished with a quarterback rating of 139.2.
(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
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Despite missing starting right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee, an essential component of the passing game, Stafford delivered passes with surgical precision to Odell Beckham Jr., leaving no doubt that the star receiver is up to date enough.
A week after Michel rushed for 121 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he rushed 79 against the Cardinals, helping keep Arizona’s offense off the field and perfecting Stafford’s passing game.
“He looked after the ball and took calculated risks,” said retired quarterback Drew Stanton, who backed Stafford with the Detroit Lions. “What a difference the running game made this time. He and [el entrenador de los Rams, Sean] McVay are learning to play to each other’s strengths within the framework of the system. They looked polished and were well oiled all night. “
Those three consecutive Rams losses, those three straight games where the defenders burned Stafford with pick-sixes, are a distant memory.
In this new December dawn – which includes victories over Jacksonville and Arizona – Stafford has completed 72% of his passes (49 of 68) for 582 yards and six touchdowns, without interceptions.
Going into Monday’s game, the Rams hadn’t beaten a team with a winning record since eliminating Tampa Bay in Week 3. They were 7-1 against teams with losing records.
So there were all kinds of questions about whether they were a legitimate contender or just a two-dimensional, Hollywood-style facade, a club loaded with well-known players who would be watching the Super Bowl from the couch in January.
Of course, Monday was just a victory. The Rams need to continue the streak with a strong showing against the Seattle Seahawks in a short week, and that’s certainly not guaranteed.
The week after the Rams beat the Buccaneers, reigning Super Bowl champs, for example, Los Angeles was humiliated at home by the Cardinals.
But the rematch was a redemption. The Rams appeared to be knocked out before the game started, having lost All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to a positive test hours before the game. According to ESPN, he was on a private jet flying back to LA even before his teammates hit the field.
However, the Rams’ defensive front stepped forward, hounding Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and repeatedly shaking passes from his talented collection of receivers. Now, the Cardinals made their share of plays, but they couldn’t get through the defense like many thought they would.
The Rams intercepted Murray passes twice, and the Cardinals turned the ball over on downs twice.
The idea behind this game was that the Cardinals (10-2) had been denied the respect they so deserved. That may be so, as they continue to fight to move the needle on the national scene. But the real story is how the Rams turned an impending disaster into one of the most impressive victories of the McVay era.
It is unknown how the Rams will respond to this success. A division title is still at hand and it is clear that they can play anyone, and no one will delight in facing them.
Stafford’s No. 9 lifted his team to win No. 9. It’s undeniable that he’s happy to be playing for the Rams.
It is also obvious that the feeling is mutual.
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