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Behind Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 42-26 for their fourth consecutive victory on November 9 at Levi’s Stadium.
Stafford completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Niners. Every time the 49ers believed that they were closing the gap in this contest, Los Angeles would add another score until they eventually put the game out of reach.
With the Rams at 7-2 and in position to potentially win the NFC West, Stafford earned an interesting comparison to another athlete: Los Angeles Lakers‘ LeBron James.
On the November 9 edition of “CBS Sports HQ,” NFL analyst Jason Cabinda explained why Stafford resembles James.
“He honestly has a LeBron effect,” Cabinda said. “I played with [Stafford] when I was in Detroit. He’s one of those players, one of those quarterbacks who makes everyone around him better. The way he places the ball and acts like a coach on the field is special.
“There are very few times when I watch his team play where, pre-snap, Stafford doesn’t know what’s going on, where he wants to go with the football, or which part of the field he wants to attack. I think just having that as your foundation, your starting point, and pairing a guy like that with Sean McVay, the results can be endless.”
Matthew Stafford’s Game Is Aging Well
Cabinda also noted that while Stafford might not have the mobility he once had, the Rams star is adapting to the tools his body is providing, as well as his football IQ, while being successful and optimizing the offensive weapons around him.
“I think what he’s doing at this stage of his career, like you mentioned, he can’t really run that much anymore and things of that nature, but he manages the game perfectly,“ Cabinda added.
“He puts the ball exactly where it’s supposed to be, never puts the offense behind schedule, and things of that nature. That’s how you take care of the team, take care of the offense, and win games at the end of the day.”
Can Matthew Stafford Win the MVP Award?
Stafford has been on fire the past three games, leading the Rams to 111 points while making history as the first NFL quarterback with four or more touchdowns and no interceptions in three straight games.
His streak goes even further: 20 passing touchdowns and zero interceptions over six games, setting a new NFL record for a six-game span in a single season, per ESPN Research.
Even though Stafford’s recent performance has pushed him into the MVP discussion, wide receiver Davante Adams believes he’s been playing at that level all season.
“It’s looked like MVP play to me all year, to be honest,“ Adams said (h/t ESPN). “I mean, even certain games … the pick he threw against Tennessee and the way he bounced back after that; that’s how an MVP plays to me. Just to rally a team and continue to lead at a high level after things don’t go your way, I think that’s what really shows what an MVP is about.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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