INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford proved in Week 7, when 10 different players caught a pass, that he doesn't need wide receiver Puka Nacua to operate an elite Rams offense. But it never hurts to get your top target back.

Midway through the second quarter, Stafford faked the handoff and dropped back to pass. With Nacua running an out-and-up on the right sideline, Stafford waited for his No. 1 target to get vertical before letting it fly. The pass, which Stafford said (with a grin) "felt pretty good" out of his hand, soared right into Nacua's path inside the pylon, and the third-year star elevated over a defender to grab the 39-yard touchdown, putting L.A. up 20-3. That pass had a completion probability of 32%, according to Next Gen Stats.

"I was able to kind of hold the post player just for a click, and then peeked out of the corner and saw that Puka did a nice job of getting behind him and put it to a good spot," Stafford said.

The veteran quarterback delivered yet another awe-inspiring performance in a season that is trending toward being one of his best. Against the Saints on Sunday, Stafford threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns (all against the blitz), registering a season-high 140.8 passer rating and completing 75% of his passes.

The love wasn't quite as spread as it was in London, but Stafford and McVay certainly made an effort to get different playmakers involved on Sunday. Seven players caught multiple passes, including four tight ends, in a game where the Rams embraced more multiple-tight end sets for the second-straight.

"It's just great command, great understanding of what (Stafford's) seeing, great ability to be able to distribute the ball based on what the coverage dictates," said head coach Sean McVay. "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."

But for McVay, who's come to expect greatness from Stafford whenever he graces the field, it was "just another game where he's in total command."

With Sunday's performance, Stafford became the fourth QB ever (fifth instance) with 20-plus passing touchdowns and two-or-fewer interceptions in their team's first eight games of a season. He joins Tom Brady (2007 MVP season and 2015), Aaron Rodgers (2020 MVP season) and Patrick Mahomes (2020), according to NFL Research.

Stafford's first touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee came out of 13 personnel (three tight ends), something that L.A. utilized heavily in their last two games. Rookie Terrance Ferguson also contributed some big plays, including a third-down conversion and a 36-yard catch and run that brought his game total to two receptions for 54 yards, the third-most on the team.

"If you had 13 personnel out there and you didn't believe in the guys that you had out there, then it wouldn't be that good, but we do," Stafford said.

While Stafford's connection with Nacua is well-established and led to a historic start to the season for the pair of them, his rapport with wide receiver Davante Adams is still developing. Today was another step in the right direction for that duo, as Adams caught two of Stafford's touchdown passes from inside the five-yard line.

The first was a three-yard slant that Stafford aimed low on, so only Adams could get to it. The second was a back-shoulder fade where Adams elevated to snag the touchdown and put L.A. up 27-10 in the third quarter.

"Davante's a really sharp guy," Stafford said. "We had some stuff at the line of scrimmage today that he and I were communicating on and (it) worked out for us. (He) did a nice job, so I got a ton of trust and respect in his aptitude to go out there and play, and his mental capabilities. And then it's a whole lot of fun when he's talking to me, he's giving me great information."

Of course, it wouldn't have been a Stafford classic without an absurd no-look pass. On a 3rd-and-12 near midfield, Adams ran a deep dig, and Stafford held the safety at bay with his eyes toward the sideline, but then layered the ball over the linebacker in the middle of the field to hit Adams in-stride.

Stafford's big day couldn't have happened without some help from his offensive line, as he was only pressured on six of his 34 dropbacks (17.6%), according to Pro Football Focus. And that came on a day where Stafford was blitzed at a 41.1% rate.

"I can't do any of that stuff if I'm not standing upright," Stafford said. "So our guys up front are doing a hell of a job."