Coming off their first Super Bowl championship in two decades, the Los Angeles Rams were picked by many to have a real shot at winning the world title once again.
However, four games into the new season, they hold only a mediocre 2-2 record, and they are smarting after getting blasted by their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 24-9 on Monday Night Football.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had a banner season in 2021, is not playing his best football and looked far from a champion on Monday versus the 49ers.
Through four contests, some of his stats are good but some others aren’t.
As a result, there are certain fans and observers who are worried about him moving forward.
At this point of the season, there is no reason to be that worried about Stafford.
Stafford Played Poorly But It Was One Game
The naysayers are fixated on Stafford’s poor showing on Monday when he threw zero touchdown passes and one interception while getting sacked a whopping seven times.
It was shades of the blowout LA suffered to open the season against the Buffalo Bills when he threw three interceptions against just one touchdown and also endured seven sacks.
Versus the 49ers, Stafford was going up against arguably the best defense in the NFL, one that made Russell Wilson go 20-for-33 and get sacked four times while failing to throw a touchdown pass in Week 3.
San Francisco boasts one of the league’s best pass rushers in Nick Bosa, who had two sacks and five QB hits, an ascending middle linebacker in Fred Warner, and two standout defensive backs in cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
On the other hand, Stafford looked like his usual self in the Rams’ other two contests so far.
Versus the Atlanta Falcons on September 18, he was 27-of-36 and threw three touchdown passes, and the following week he went 18-of-25 against the Arizona Cardinals.
In both contests, Staford had a passer rating of over 100.
Even when he had trouble putting points on the board for Los Angeles, he has still been accurate, as he did complete 32-of-48 passes.
In fact, he was able to find All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp time and time again, allowing him to catch 14-of-19 passes he was targeted on for 122 yards.
The Rams Aren’t At Full Strength
At this point, it may make more sense to be concerned about the Rams’ offensive line than Stafford.
Center Brian Allen is out with a knee injury while David Edwards missed Week 4 with a concussion, which has resulted in subpar protection for Stafford.
The Rams’ offensive line trying to protect Matt Stafford: pic.twitter.com/HTOydswDpv
— Brian Y (@byysports) October 4, 2022
In fact, some are predicting ugliness for Los Angeles when it plays the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5.
cowboys defense might feast on this rams offensive line next Sunday pic.twitter.com/H3eALZvc7i
— Thighia LaBeouf (@ntmellie) October 4, 2022
Micah Parsons might break the single game sack record vs the Rams offensive line
— Nico (@elitetakes_) October 4, 2022
The #Rams’ offensive line injuries and disarray leading to pressures and sacks seems most significant issue. Skill players don’t matter if the Oline fails. https://t.co/TST4PzSVpH
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 4, 2022
But the numbers suggest that Stafford has still been able to be productive when his offensive line has allowed opposing front sevens to blitz and pressure him.
Kind of interesting, but Matthew Stafford has actually been really good against pressure this season (per @PFF):
55 dropbacks vs. pressure (8th-most)
6.5 YPA (17th)
72.3 PFF grade (2nd)
10.8% big-time throw % (4th)
3.6% turnover worthy plays (29th)
82.4% adj completion % (2nd)— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) October 4, 2022
Still, with a tough schedule coming up (they will face the 49ers again on October 30, as well as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week), everyone else needs to pitch in and enable Stafford to resemble his best self, the version of himself he often was last year.
NEXT: 1 Cooper Kupp Stat Will Shock NFL Fans