WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – After an uncharacteristic performance from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford Monday night against the Falcons, some of the conversation online involved speculation as to whether he had lost ground in the MVP race.
Stafford has not concerned himself with any part of the award's discussion at any point this season, even when it picked up over the second half of it. So, when asked Wednesday if the MVP stuff enters in his mind in terms of "finishing (the regular season) with a flourish" on Sunday against the Cardinals, he maintained the same attitude.
"Listen, I'm not too worried about it," Stafford said after Wednesday's walkthrough. "People are going to vote how they want to vote. They're going to say what they want to say. I'm just trying to put as good of a season together as I possibly can and our last opportunity to do that is coming up this weekend and I'm excited about that chance. I would love to play perfect in every game, but I'm not a robot and it happens. I'm just proud of our team and I'm looking forward to another opportunity."
Statistically, the 2025 season has been one of the best of Stafford's 17-year NFL career. His 42 touchdown passes are a career-high, and broke his own Rams single-season franchise record he set back in 2021. His passing touchdowns, and 220 first downs passing, both lead the NFL entering Week 18. His 4,448 passing yards currently sit fifth-most in a single season in his career.
"Yeah, I think so, probably. It's up there," Stafford said when asked if this is his best season. "I think statistically, probably, I don't know. I haven't looked at all the other ones, but it's up there with some of the better ones I've played. But the cool thing about that is (it's) just because I have such a great group around me. I mean, I can't go out there, and you guys see me play – I can't go out there and scramble around, hold the ball for 10 seconds and then go on a 30-yard run. I've got great, great teammates. I try to do my best to get the best out of those guys and help them succeed and help those guys have great seasons and great games as best I can. But it really is such a team effort when it comes to playing offense, defense, special teams, the whole thing, it takes everybody. We understand that. We know it. Nobody on our team feels like we're bigger than the team and we're all just excited to do our role as best as we possibly can. And that's our that's our attitude, that's our thought really the whole season and moving forward. Just do the best you can for your role, and that will elevate people around you."
Regardless of where his performance takes him in regards to post-season awards, teammates and coaches have long known what makes him valuable to the Rams.
"I think one of the biggest compliments, like what we've talked about before, is do you elevate the people you're around and the situations you're a part of?" head coach Sean McVay said after Wednesday's walkthrough. "He certainly does that and I think that's been reflected from guys having their best years around him. He deserves a ton of credit for that."
