The Los Angeles Rams handed the Indianapolis Colts their first loss of the 2025 season, and they got a vintage performance from quarterback Matthew Stafford to seal it.
Stafford completed 29 of 41 pass attempts for 375 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in the 27-20 contest. Most notably, he was at his best when the game demanded it most, down the stretch.
So much so that Stafford garnered attention from the league’s social media team.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Draws Attention From NFL
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams leaves the field after beating the Indianapolis Colts.
Stafford completed nine of his 10 passes for 172 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs in the fourth quarter for the Rams against the Colts on Sunday. That included the go-ahead TD pass, an 88-yarder to TuTu Atwell that made up the entirety of the possession.
“Matthew Stafford. Clutch,” the NFL posted on X on September 28.
“WR Tutu Atwell’s 88-yard touchdown is the longest in his career and the longest passing touchdown of QB Matthew Stafford’s career,” Rams PR posted on X on September 28. “It was the eighth receiving touchdown of at least 88 yards in Rams history.”
Among the other accolades Stafford accomplished in the game that the PR team acknowledged, he logged his most passing yards before halftime (168) since Week 13 in 2023.
He also surpassed at least 203 passing yards for the 49th time in the last five seasons.
“This was QB Matthew Stafford’s 71st career game with 300 passing yards,” the Rams PR team posted. “Stafford became the fifth QB in Rams history to have a game with 375+ passing yards, 3+ passing touchdowns with zero interceptions, joining Marc Bulger (twice), Jared Goff (twice), Austin Davis and Kurt Warner.”
Matthew Stafford Closed Door on Colts
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams scrambles against the Indianapolis Colts.
Stafford also drew posts from the league’s social media team for his deep pass to Puka Nacua that set up the Rams’ second field goal.
He also had a TD pass to Davante Adams that capped a 96-yard drive, both before halftime.
“The Colts cracked the door for this with some offensive miscues,” The Athletic’s Nate Atkins posted on X on September 28 in response to a fan casting doubt on Stafford’s impact on the win. “It doesn’t take away from a great performance on the other side.”
“This is the reverse of what I was saying last week in the Eagles’ favor: Just because players aren’t on your favorite team doesn’t mean they aren’t helping decide the outcome,” Atkins said in a follow-up post, replying to himself. “Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are beasts who wrecked the Rams [in Week 3].
“Stafford just did it to the Colts.”
An interception by safety Kam Curl locked the door on the Colts in Week 4, but only after Stafford, Atwell, and the offense closed it.
Puka Nacua Benefits From Matthew Stafford’s Big Day
GettyPuka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams walks off the field after beating the Indianapolis Colts.
Like Stafford, Nacua drew plenty of recognition from the Rams’ public relations team during the game. He finished with a career-high 170 yards and 1 TD on 13 receptions and finished Sunday’s slate of games as the NFL’s leading receiver.
He has at least 100 yards in three of four games this season and 91 yards in the other.
They noted his 31-yard grab from Stafford “was his first of the season of 30 yards or more. It was the Rams’ fifth big passing play (30+) of the year, which ranks second in the league.
“Nacua has at least 60 receiving yards in each of the Rams’ first four games this season. The last Ram to do that – outside of Nacua himself (first five of 2023) – was Cooper Kupp, who had at least 60 receiving yards in each of the Rams’ 17 games of 2021.”
He also notched his third career game with 100-plus receiving yards and passed Todd Gurley for 15th in receptions in franchise history.
Nacua is one of three players with eight-plus catches in each of the first four games in a season.
Davante Adams Makes Mark in Quiet Game
GettyDavante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nacua’s running mate, Davante Adams, had a quieter day in the Rams’ win. Adams finished with 56 yards and one scoring grab on four receptions. Adams’ score was his 106th TD reception, and he moved into 30th all-time in receiving yards.
“This was Davante Adams’ 64th career game with 50+ receiving yards and a receiving touchdown,” the team’s public relations department posted on X. “That is fifth most in the last 25 years, behind Larry Fitzgerald (73), Antonio Gates (69), Terrell Owens (68) and Mike Evans (66).”
Up next for Stafford, Adams, and Nacua are the San Francisco 49ers on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 5.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Matthew Stafford Draws Attention From NFL as Rams Beat Colts appeared first on Heavy Sports.