Green Bay Packers v. LA Rams: Behind Enemy Lines Week 12
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers fans are familiar with Matthew Stafford but playing for the Rams is different than playing with the Lions. What’s gone well and what’s he struggled with this season?
Ramblin’ Fan: When it comes to Matthew Stafford, the magic or pitfalls seem to jump out quickly in the game. So far in the LA Rams season, the team is 7-3, Matthew Stafford has completed 245 of 362 passes for 3,014 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has been sacked 14 times so far this season. But the outcome of practically all games played this season so far has been determined by how well or poorly the LA Rams have started in the first quarter.
When Stafford is hot, his ability to read defenses and throw darts to the open receiver is astounding. He makes it look so easy, too easy, and the fans have latched onto that miraculous start to the season and raised the bar of expectations far beyond what any quarterback can achieve week in and week out.
When the Rams faced the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, offensive center Brian Allen suffered a rather severe elbow injury. Rather than be replaced, he tried to tough it out, and the pass protection of the interior offensive line suffered dramatically. He was not healed for Week 10, and the San Francisco 49ers pass rush simply continued to work the middle of the Rams offensive line, much like the Titans had done a week earlier. The impact on Stafford was significant. He completed just 57 of 89 passes for 537 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. Even when he did complete passes, they were far shorter than any other game this season, as much as half of the distance of previous games.
The combination of Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay seems to resonate, harmonize, and amplify the effect of one through the other. When things go well, Stafford executes McVay’s game plan with such precise, instantaneous impact that it leaves the observer to wonder if anyone can stop this team. When things do not go well, it appears as though the offense is oblivious to what the defense is doing, and that they are just following a script of dead-end plays that repeat the same ineffective results.
The Matthew Stafford-Cooper Kupp connection has been long-awaited by Rams fans. Both Robert Woods and Kupp have long been underestimated by NFL analysts because they are content to shoulder the burden of offensive dirty work. Woods and Kupp run precise routes, will block, run and catch whenever the offense needs them to do so. Robert Woods’ season has ended due to an ACL but Kupp is one of the best receivers in the NFL so far.
The Rams had to expect that there would be an awkward transition phase of getting Stafford to link with the Rams receivers. Hopefully, that is behind them now.