LOS ANGELES — As Rams coach Sean McVay passed out game balls on Sunday as the team celebrated a 45-17 road win against the Arizona Cardinals, he saved quarterback Matthew Stafford’s for last. The coach stalked across the spartan visiting locker room and tossed the ball into the right hand that had just thrown for 281 more yards and three more touchdowns.
When Stafford walked to the middle of the circle to break the team down, his teammates began chanting “M-V-P” for the 37-year-old veteran. Stafford at first tried to wave it away, then with a smile said, “I appreciate it.” The chants continuing and the grin growing, he waved his arms side to side, saying, “Alright, alright, alright.”
“It was a cool,” Stafford said. “I hope they all know that they’re a huge part of it, and I think they do.”
With that performance against the Cardinals, Stafford shook off a two-interception day a week earlier to continue his silent campaign for MVP. He is fifth in the NFL in estimated points added per play (0.219) and second in quarterback success rate (54.1%) while completing 66.7% of his passes for 3,354 yards and just four interceptions.
His 35 touchdown passes this season are nine more than second-place Dak Prescott. Per ESPN, the last five times that has happened through Week 14 since 1995, that quarterback has gone on to win MVP.
“I don’t want to speak in too many hypotheticals,” Stafford said. “Just to be in the conversation is something that’s humbling to me knowing the people that have played this game before me and the guys that have helped me get to where I am.”
His play is elevating his teammates, too. Receiver Puka Nacua is tied for the NFL lead in receptions, while Davante Adams leads the league in receiving touchdowns.
It’s Adams’ first season playing with Stafford, and the former All-Pro receiver has spoken at length about the poise with which his new quarterback comports himself. In an interview with “Rams Revealed,” he said he told Stafford that he will retire when he does.
“That was kind of a joke, kind of serious,” Adams told reporters on Wednesday. “He just laughed. He didn’t really take it too serious, but I need him to know that it’s kind of serious.”
Whether it’s been his loss of conscious thought while celebrating with teammates after big plays, or walking around the locker room mimicking Nate Landman’s voice during media scrums, it’s been clear Stafford is savoring this run with this group while playing at this level, whatever the end-of-year awards gauntlet has in store.
“Enjoying all the moments. Great group of guys,” Stafford said. “I just think the way we all pull for each other and all pull for each other’s success. … It’s a group of guys that understands what it takes, and that’s not just on Sundays. It’s day in and day out around here, care for each other and know what the work looks like to go out there and be successful.”
As his teammates chanted “M-V-P,” one could be heard calling out “Niner.” Stafford’s jersey number has always been the way his teammates refer to him when discussing his morning film sessions, the work he does to keep his body ready, the presence he has such as at Wednesday’s walk-through as the Rams (10-3) prepared to face the Detroit Lions (8-5) on Sunday.
And when they talk about what’s possible when the ball is in “Nine’s” hands.
“There has been a consistent belief that when that guy’s our quarterback, everybody believes we always have a chance. There’s such a reverence and respect,” McVay said. “He’s got such a great humility, but you know that he’s the man at the same time. And that is an incredible way to be able to balance, but that is authentic to who Matthew is and then his play speaks for himself.”
BRIEFLY
The Rams only held a walk-through Wednesday, but the injury report projected that outside linebacker Byron Young (knee) would have been limited and Adams (hamstring) would not have practiced.
The Rams will elevate wide receiver Tutu Atwell off injured reserve to the active roster for this weekend’s game against the Lions.
