Matthew Stafford never came close to winning MVP in his 12 years with the Lions. He had strong seasons, like when he threw 41 touchdown passes and 16interceptions in 2011, but Aaron Rodgers was a runaway winner that year.
Three weeks into his tenure with the Rams, Stafford is already tied for the favorite to win the coveted award. According to Tipico Sportsbook, Stafford is now tied with Kyler Murray at +600 to win NFL MVP. The next-closest players behind them are Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen at +750. Stafford and Murray will square off in Week 4 when the Rams host the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.
Back in April, Stafford was tied for seventh in MVP odds at +1800. At that time, a $100 bet on Stafford to win would’ve returned a profit of $1,800. Now, the profit is only $600 – still a nice payday, but not the value it once was.
It’s still extremely early in the season, being just three games in, but Stafford is looking like a good bet to take home the trophy based on the way he’s played up to this point.
In three games, he has nine touchdown passes, one interception, is averaging 314 yards per game and leads the NFL in QBR (82.8), net yards per pass attempt (9.41) and adjusted net yards per pass attempt (10.8).
He’s set new career-highs in just about every notable passing category in the first three games of a season, including completion percentage (70.2), yards per attempt (10.0), yards per completion (14.3), touchdown-to-interception ratio (9-to-1) and passer rating 129.8.
Through the first 3 games of a season, career-bests in just about every category for Matthew Stafford in Year 1 with @RamsNFL. To name a few:
Comp%
YPA
YPC
TD:INT
Rating pic.twitter.com/eHs3UeZ7Ax— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) September 26, 2021
Stafford deserves a ton of credit for the way he’s played this season, but he’s also gotten a lot of help from his offensive line, his receivers and coach Sean McVay, who has designed some brilliant plays on offense.
He gave his teammates credit after Sunday’s win over the Bucs, deflecting praise as he often does.
“Yeah, I don’t want to rehash all the years I was (in Detroit), to be honest with you, but I just know that I feel grateful to step in the huddle with the guys that I have – both the guys up front that are playing at the level that they’re playing at right now and the guys around me in the skill positions,” he said. “I’m enjoying every minute of it and trying to make the most of it and seeing where it will take us.”
Right now, Stafford is on pace for 5,338 yards, 51 touchdown passes and only 17 sacks – all of which would be career-bests, of course.
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