INGLEWOOD — With a healthy Puka Nacua, or without him. In 13-personnel, or 11. With his starting offensive line, or a revolving door. With his eyes on his intended target, or misdirecting the defense.
It has not mattered this season for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The results have been the same. Consistent, accurate, explosive. And in Sunday’s 34-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, it was no different as he continued to instill confidence in his teammates.
“If you don’t believe in him, I don’t know what to tell you, man,” right guard Kevin Dotson said. “He makes it easy for us.”
Stafford completed 24 of 32 attempts against the Saints, throwing for 281 yards and four touchdowns. And he did it by pulling out all the tricks he’s honed in his 17 years in the NFL.
A quick slant to Davante Adams, isolated one-on-one in 13-personnel? Easy.
A soft-touch floater to an open Tyler Higbee, left alone off a play fake? Never a doubt.
How about a 39-yard chair route to Nacua, the ball meeting him perfectly at the pylon for Nacua’s first touchdown as a father, celebrated by rocking the baby? Yeah, Stafford’s 37-year-old arm can still do that, too.
“Left my hand, it felt pretty good,” Stafford said with a smile, somehow simultaneously humble and cocky. “And it ended up pretty good.”
Or a fade ball to Adams in the end zone, Adams’ fifth TD in two games and the 109th of his career to tie Tony Gonzalez for eighth on the all-time list? And to make it two consecutive games with four passing touchdowns in Stafford’s career, the first time he’s accomplished that feat? Sure, why not add to each of their respective resumes?
“It’s cool to be a part of it,” Stafford said, “to get to share the field with guys that have done it a long time at a high level like him.”
Oh, and don’t forget the patented Stafford no-looker, catching Adams in the middle of the field for a 29-yard gain while his eyes were firmly on the sideline.
And then how about a new trick, like Stafford – for so long a gunslinger in the spirit of Brett Favre – tying his career high with five games without an interception?
Even with Nacua back after a one-game absence with an ankle sprain, Stafford continued to spread the ball around. Sure, Nacua still led the way with seven catches and eight targets even after leaving the game in the third quarter with a chest injury. But Stafford connected with seven pass catchers against the Saints.
That included all four tight ends, as the Rams (6-2) again heavily featured 12- and 13-personnel groupings. The Rams had three tight ends on the field on 35 of 77 plays Sunday, including four of five touchdowns. Rookie Terrance Ferguson was a factor for the third week in a row, this time with an 18-yard gain on 3rd-and-8 and a 36-yarder in which Stafford found him in the middle of the zone of the Saints (1-8).
“It’s a collection of everybody,” Stafford said. “When we’re at our best, a lot of people are touching the football. It’s been a lot of fun, obviously.”
The Rams’ other strengths and weaknesses that will determine the fate of their season were on display Sunday, too. An efficient run game, with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combining for 172 yards on 38 carries. A defense that kept rookie QB Tyler Shough under pressure and created two turnovers via a Nate Landman punch out and an Emmanuel Forbes interception. And a kicking game that continues to flounder with Joshua Karty missing a PAT and a pressured field goal.
Those all play into the Rams’ equation, as do Nacua, Adams, the tight ends, and the offensive line. But Stafford stirs the drink, and he continues to elevate the Rams in 2025. Eight games into the season, he’s thrown for 2,147 yards, 21 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s on pace for 45 touchdowns, which would mark a career high for him.
And with him playing at that level, the Rams have every reason to believe.
“I think he’s pushing the ball, I think he’s understanding situationally what’s the right way to be able to play it. I just have total confidence where you can call the game through him and he’s done a great job of taking care of the football,” head coach Sean McVay said. “Just another game where he’s in total command and we’re sure grateful to be able to have him running the show for us.”