The Los Angeles Rams walked out of Week 11 with a 21-19 win over the Seattle Seahawks and the kind of defensive performance that can tilt a season. Four interceptions and a secondary that dictated everything.
On Monday, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky submitted a “best defense” post, in response to Matthew Stafford’s continued brilliance under center.
Now it’s also possible that the former NFL QB might’ve been referring to the stoutness of Seattle’s defense, given that it currently ranks five spots behind the Rams in opponent points per game (19.3) and ahead at No. 9 in opponent yards per game (301.5) …Either way, each shares the same essence. Stafford is operating in tighter windows, against better defenses, and with a Rams roster that finally looks capable of carrying its weight when the offense isn’t firing.
What made the win more telling is what Stafford didn’t need to do. He didn’t deliver a statistical showcase. He finished with a season-low 130 passing yards. Yet he walked out with his eighth win because the roster around him finally looks capable of protecting a lead and covering for an uneven offensive stretch. That balance is new territory in the Stafford era and arrives just as his future becomes far more complicated.
Stafford’s production is still elite. Through eleven weeks he has 2,557 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Rams Must Confront Stafford’s Value All Over Again
Stafford is signed through 2026 on a structure that looks modest in the current quarterback market. He turns 38 in February. His deal carries an average annual value of approximately $42 million per year, per Spotrac, with cap hits of about $47.5 million in 2025 and $48.3 million in 2026. Those numbers sit outside the top ten among active quarterback salaries.
That was the plan when the Rams built the deal. Stafford was supposed to be the short-term veteran bridge while Los Angeles reloaded the roster.
The reality is different now.
Through nine games he had 25 touchdown passes with 2 interceptions. That level of performance places Stafford firmly inside the MVP discussion and forces a conversation the Rams did not expect to revisit.
Sean McVay has not addressed the issue directly, but the way he talks about Stafford makes the team’s internal stance clear. Comments about timing, control and situational execution consistently point to a staff that trusts Stafford as much now as it did during the Super Bowl run.
League precedent only strengthens the case. Tom Brady’s late-thirties surge is well-documented. Aaron Rodgers signed a massive extension when he was 39. Veteran quarterbacks are lasting longer because the league rewards processing and arm talent more than raw mobility.
Stafford still offers both.
Stafford Is Playing His Way Into a New Offseason Discussion
Sunday’s win distilled the problem into one afternoon. Stafford didn’t drive the offensive fireworks, yet the Rams never felt rattled because he managed the game with the command of a quarterback who has seen every possible coverage. The defense gave him short fields. The offense stayed ahead of the sticks. Los Angeles never trailed. Stafford played turnover-free football in a matchup where every mistake mattered.
The remaining schedule will frame the debate for Stafford and his 8-2 squad. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are next. After that, the Rams dive into a stretch that will define the NFC playoff landscape. If Stafford maintains his current pace and the defense sustains its level, Los Angeles will need to confront the contract question they assumed was settled.
A new structure could ease future cap spikes, create flexibility and lock in the most stable part of the roster. The risk is age and injury history. The reward is continuity at quarterback during the team’s clearest competitive window since their Super Bowl year.
The Rams built this roster expecting a steady veteran presence. What they have instead is a top-tier performer approaching forty who is playing like he belongs among the league’s elite.
Stafford is giving the Rams more than they anticipated. Now, they must decide how long they want to keep this version of him in place.
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