Since acquiring Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions in a trade back in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams have been one of the better consistent teams.
The team has made the playoffs three of the four playings since having Stafford stand behind the center, including winning the 2021 Super Bowl. In his first four seasons in the City of Angels, Stafford recorded 14,700 passing yards and 95 passing touchdowns — the quarterback also earned his second Pro Bowl nod in LA.
Stafford has been playing at a different level in his fifth season in Los Angeles, finally turning heads and looking like an MVP candidate. But an NFL writer believes how the QB plays the rest of the season determines the players Hall of Fame future.
ESPN Writer Makes Claim On Matthew Stafford
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is currently under contract for at least one more season with the Los Angeles Rams, but the chances of him playing out his deal is uncertain.
The quarterback was dealing with back issues in the beginning of the season, which no longer appears to be the case, with some questions being asked if the player could play beyond this season. Los Angeles are currently playing like Super Bowl contenders and have a good opportunity to win the Lombardi trophy, which would be a good way for the player to call it a career.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the rest of the 2025 season can determine if Stafford can cement him as of the best quarterbacks of his generation and put his name in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
“Stafford has likely already done enough to make it to the Hall of Fame. Winning an MVP award and a second Super Bowl, though, would eliminate any doubt. Right now, even if he does make it in as expected, Stafford would go into the Hall as a player who was a very good quarterback for a long time without ever really threatening to be the best in football,” Barnwell wrote.
“Keep in mind that Stafford has made the Pro Bowl only twice and never earned a first-place MVP vote… There are no guarantees that he ever gets as close to another Super Bowl ring or an MVP award as he is right now. The 37-year-old QB doesn’t need either of those things to retire with his legacy intact, but landing them would cement Stafford in a different tier of legendary quarterbacks than the one he’s in now.”
The quarterback has nine seasons in which he threw for 4,000 or more yards, with one of those seasons reaching 5,000 yards. Stafford was the man throwing at the two wide receivers who achieved the two highest single yard seasons in the league. While the QB hasn’t been “the best” he is certainly better than many others throughout his career.
Remainder Of The Season
GettyThe Los Angeles Rams will face former quarterback Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in Week 15
While the feats would be nice, Matthew Stafford is most likely looking at his next opens for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season.
Los Angeles’ path to the playoffs is likely secured, but will face two teams with a record over 0.500 to secure the number one seed in the NFC. One of those teams will be against Stafford’s former team, the Detroit Lions.
The Rams would win the NFC West if they were have a clean sweep of wins to end the season but if will be a difficult task, especially after the upset loss in Week 13.
The quarterback is currently on track to have over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on the season. If the QB is able to take his current performances to the playoffs, it would give LA is good shot to win the Super Bowl.
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