Tag: Matthew Stafford

Only one NFL player is ahead of Matthew Stafford in career earnings

Matthew Stafford has earned more money in his NFL career than everyone except for one player: Aaron Rodgers

Matthew Stafford has played the most important position in football for a very long time and at a high level. That combination is what’s made him one of the top earners in NFL history.

Over the course of his career, Stafford has made $364.3 million. There’s only one active player in the league who has made more, and that player is Aaron Rodgers. In fact, Rodgers is the only player all-time with more career earnings than Stafford.

Rodgers, who came into the NFL four years before Stafford, has made $380.6 million in his career, according to Spotrac. Third on the list is Russell Wilson, who’s made $305.3 million and is the only other player who’s earned at least $300 million in his career. Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott round out the top five.

It’s possible Stafford will overtake Rodgers at some point before he retires, especially if he and the Rams redo the quarterback’s contract in the offseason. Even at the age of 36, he’s still playing at a high level and has shown no signs of slowing down, so he could easily play into his 40s.

It’s truly an accomplishment to perform as well as Stafford has for nearly 20 years in the NFL, and his career earnings are a testament to how highly he’s bene viewed by the Lions and Rams throughout his career.

Matthew Stafford knows challenge of facing ‘all-time great’ Aaron Rodgers

Matthew Stafford isn’t putting any extra thought into facing Aaron Rodgers again but he knows it’ll be another challenge

Matthew Stafford has gone up against Aaron Rodgers 17 times in his career. He’d surely like his record to be better in those games, winning just four of them.

But all that matters is the next one, and it’ll take place on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

Stafford and the Rams are visiting Rodgers and the Jets this weekend in what’s a key game for Los Angeles’ playoff hopes. The Jets have nothing to play for besides pride, owning an unsightly 4-10 record, but they still have a future Hall of Fame quarterback and one of the best wide receiver tandems in football.

Having faced Rodgers more than a dozen times before, Stafford knows it’s going to be a challenge on Sunday.

“It’s always a good battle,” Stafford said. “A ton of respect for him. Great player in this league, an all-time great, has unbelievable talent and has accomplished a bunch. It’s always a challenge going against him.”

Stafford couldn’t pinpoint one battle against Rodgers that stands out among the rest, which is understandable A) given the number of times they’ve played each other and B) his disappointing 4-13 record.

He’s also not putting too much stock in their next matchup on Sunday, looking at it as just another game on the schedule.

“I’m just excited to go up there and play,” Stafford said. “Obviously, meaningful football in the month of December is an awesome thing to be a part of. We’ve earned that and we’ve got to continue to earn that opportunity to play games that matter. This just happens to be the next one on the list. I have a ton of respect for Aaron and have competed against him a bunch of times in my career. He’s a hell of a player and does a great job. He’s still doing a really good job for them. He played fantastic in the last couple of weeks. He looks to be healthy, moving around and doing his thing.”

Rodgers may not be playing at a high level like we’ve been used to seeing throughout his career, but it’s not as if he’s a bottom-tier quarterback. And he’s shown flashes of still being able to move around quite well, rushing for 45 yards on six attempts last week in Jacksonville.

The Rams aren’t going to take this matchup lightly, especially with a four-time NFL MVP on the other side.

Matthew Stafford describes what Tyler Higbee’s return means to the Rams

Tyler Higbee is expected to make his season debut on Sunday and Matthew Stafford is excited to have him back

The Los Angeles Rams are getting healthy at just the right time and on Sunday, they’ll get back a guy who hasn’t played a game all year. Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee is expected to make his season debut against the New York Jets this weekend, which will be his first action since tearing his ACL and MCL in January’s playoff loss to the Detroit Lions.

As one of the longest-tenured players on the team, Higbee is a leader in the locker room. He’s been just that even while rehabbing his knee, but the offense is excited to get him back on the field after a long absence.

Matthew Stafford spoke Wednesday about the impact Higbee can have on the Rams, not only with his skill set, but also his understanding of the offense.

“Obviously, a lot of experience within the offense,” Stafford said of what Higbee brings. “He is a guy that has been here for a long time. He understands what we’re trying to do on every play. He is a great energy guy. The biggest thing is I’m just excited for him. What an accomplishment to be able to come back from something like that and to be able to be available for us. His contributions are going to be between the lines, but also just out there on the practice field. His attitude is infectious and the way he goes about his businesses is amazing. We’re glad to have him back.”

Higbee has slowly been working his way back into things, practicing with the team for the last several weeks. The Rams are understandably being cautious with their veteran tight end, but simply having him out there in practice has helped ramp up the energy for the whole team.

“Ever since we got him back out there, he’s just a fun guy to be around,” Stafford said. “He loves playing this game, whether it’s his role on scout team the last couple weeks or with the offense out there running plays. He’s a guy that brings great energy.”

Sean McVay said the Rams are still “working through” the plan at tight end, now that they have four guys who are eligible to be active on game day. Assuming Higbee isn’t a healthy scratch, it could be Davis Allen who becomes inactive on Sunday, with Colby Parkinson and Hunter Long being the other two tight ends.

Rams-Jets on track to be one of the coldest games of Sean McVay’s tenure

Looking at the track records of the Rams and Matthew Stafford in cold-weather games with Sunday’s forecast showing frigid temperatures

The Los Angeles Rams will be practicing in near-perfect weather in Woodland Hills this week, with the forecast calling for sun and high temperatures between 73 and 80 degrees. Those are ideal conditions as they prepare for the New York Jets, but there’s just one problem. The forecast looks very different in East Rutherford where the game will be played on Sunday.

As of now, it’s expected to be around 24 degrees at kickoff, which is also the high of the day. With 8-10 mph winds, it’s going to feel even colder than 24.

Being a West Coast team, the Rams don’t often play cold-weather games, so Sunday will present a new type of challenge for Sean McVay’s group. Since McVay took over in 2017, the Rams have only played one game with a colder temperature at kickoff, and that was their 24-12 loss to the Packers in 2022 when Baker Mayfield was under center.

Since 2017, the Rams have played four outdoor games where the temperature at kickoff was 35 degrees or lower. They’re 1-3 in those games, with the lone win being a 23-20 victory over the Broncos in 2018 – a game in which Todd Gurley carried it 28 times for 208 yards, making up for Jared Goff’s 201-yard and zero-touchdown performance against a Case Keenum-led team.

The Rams also lost to the Packers, 32-18, in the 2020 playoffs and to the Bears, 15-6, in 2018 – the infamous game that created a blueprint for slowing down McVay’s offense.

Query Results Table
Rk Team Date Temperature
▼		 Day G# Week Opp Result
1 LAR 2021-01-16 35.0 Sat 2 19 @ GNB L 18-32
2 LAR 2018-12-09 29.0 Sun 13 14 @ CHI L 6-15
3 LAR 2018-10-14 25.0 Sun 6 6 @ DEN W 23-20
4 LAR 2022-12-19 15.0 Mon 14 15 @ GNB L 12-24
Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
Generated 12/18/2024.

All four of those games have one thing in common, though. Matthew Stafford wasn’t the quarterback for the Rams. It was either Mayfield or Goff under center, so the Rams have yet to play a game with Stafford where the temperature was 35 or below.

Stafford, having spent most of his career in the NFC North, has played plenty of games where it was quite cold. His record in those games is much better than the Rams’ 1-3 mark, too.

In his career, Stafford is 5-6 in such games, with all five of his wins coming against the Packers or Bears. He’s never played in an outdoor game this cold, though – assuming the forecast stays the same. The coldest game Stafford played was a 31-0 win at Green Bay when the temperature was 26 degrees.

Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion in that game and was replaced by DeShone Kizer.

Query Results Table
Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Rk Team Date Temperature Week Opp Result
▼		 Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Rate
1 DET 2018-12-30 26.0 17 @ GNB W 31-0 21 33 63.6 272 3 0 120.0
2 DET 2017-11-06 35.0 9 @ GNB W 30-17 26 33 78.8 353 2 0 132.4
3 DET 2020-12-06 35.0 13 @ CHI W 34-30 27 42 64.3 400 3 1 109.4
4 DET 2016-01-03 31.0 17 @ CHI W 24-20 28 39 71.8 282 3 0 119.4
5 DET 2017-11-19 33.0 11 @ CHI W 27-24 21 31 67.7 287 2 0 120.2
6 DET 2012-01-01 31.0 17 @ GNB L 41-45 36 59 61.0 502 5 2 103.8
7 DET 2012-12-09 33.0 14 @ GNB L 20-27 27 45 60.0 251 1 1 74.7
8 DET 2017-12-24 35.0 16 @ CIN L 17-26 19 35 54.3 189 1 1 69.1
9 DET 2014-12-28 27.0 17 @ GNB L 20-30 20 41 48.8 202 3 0 89.2
10 DET 2009-12-06 34.0 13 @ CIN L 13-23 13 29 44.8 165 1 2 49.8
11 DET 2013-12-08 27.0 14 @ PHI L 20-34 10 25 40.0 151 0 0 60.6
Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
Generated 12/18/2024.

The Rams are going to be tested by the elements on Sunday, especially against a team that’s used to playing in frigid temperatures. Fortunately, they have the ground game and physicality up front to consistently run the ball if throwing it proves to be challenging.

This isn’t a finesse team that can’t win in the cold like that team from South Beach. The Rams are actually equipped to play a grind-it-out style of football thanks to the way their offense is built.

Aaron Rodgers excited to face Matthew Stafford after thinking their battles were over

Aaron Rodgers called Matthew Stafford one of his “all-time favorite competitors to go against” ahead of Sunday’s showdown

Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers both spent most of their careers in the NFC North, so they dueled quite a few times as division rivals. Rodgers and the Packers got the better of Stafford’s Lions in most of those matchups, but all that matters is the next one.

On Sunday afternoon, Stafford and the Rams will visit the Jets at MetLife Stadium where Rodgers will try to play spoiler with New York’s season lost.

It’s the first time Rodgers and Stafford will square off since November of 2021 when the Packers edged out the Rams, 36-28, at Lambeau Field. Rodgers is looking forward to facing his old rival once again, even if the Jets have nothing to play for as the Rams do.

“Yeah, it’s fun. Matt’s one of my all-time favorite competitors to go against,” Rodgers said on the “Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday. “A lot of fun battles over the years. A lot of respect for him. Plays the game in a way that I totally respect. He’s as tough as they come. He’s savvy, he’s smart, he’s gritty, he’s competitive. I’ve always been a big Matt Stafford fan, so excited to see him.”

Although 2021 was the last time Rodgers and Stafford played against each other, Rodgers did face the Rams in 2022. Except, Stafford missed that game due to a neck injury.

Rodgers said he and Stafford thought they might never meet on the field again after that 2022 game, so they’re both likely thrilled to get at least one more matchup on Sunday afternoon.

“We played him a couple of years ago I think in ’22, and he was banged up,” Rodgers said. “He had a neck thing or something, and we were thinking, ‘Shoot, this might be it.’ So it’s good to have one more chance to compete against him if this is it. It’s been a great time competing over the years. We had so many great battles. We get him at 10 o’clock their body time, but I know Sean (McVay) will have those boys ready and they’ve got a lot to play for and hopefully we can play a little spoiler.”

Over the course of their careers, Rodgers has won 13 of 17 games against Stafford, throwing 35 touchdown passes and three interceptions in those matchups. Stafford has 27 touchdown passes and 17 picks, so Rodgers has certainly gotten the better of him.

The futures of Rodgers and Stafford are both up in the air after the 2024 season. Though there’s a good chance Stafford returns to the Rams for at least another year, Rodgers may not be back with the Jets.

Depending on where each quarterback is playing in 2025 (if they both are), perhaps we could get one more edition of Rodgers-Stafford next year.

Mic’d up: Josh Allen asked for Matthew Stafford’s jersey after wild Rams-Bills game

Josh Allen to Matthew Stafford before Rams-Bills: “Dude, I’m like the biggest fan of yours.”

Matthew Stafford has always been a widely respected quarterback in the NFL, but he’s become particularly popular among his peers in recent years. He’s received high praise from several younger quarterbacks around the league this year alone, from C.J. Stroud to Caleb Williams.

The latest to give Stafford his flowers? Josh Allen, the MVP frontrunner.

Before kickoff in the Rams-Bills game on Sunday, Stafford and Allen shared a cool moment together that was filmed by the Rams in a mic’d-up video. Very candidly, Allen told Stafford how much he respects him.

“What’s up, brother?” Allen said.

“You’re playing great, man. Good to see you,” Stafford said.

“Dude, I’m like the biggest fan of yours,” Allen replied.

After the Rams outdueled the Bills in a wild 44-42 shootout at SoFi Stadium, Stafford found Allen again for a quick postgame chat.

“Thanks for lettin’ me hang out,” Stafford said jokingly. “Great job, man. Great (expletive) playing. Battled (expletive) tough.”

Allen then had a request for Stafford: He wanted to swap jerseys.

“I hate doing this, but is there any way I could…”

Stafford cut him off and told Allen he wanted to get his jersey, too.

“We’ll do both. I’ll send it to you in the locker room,” Stafford said.

The entire video shows what a great leader Stafford is, but those pre- and postgame chats with Allen were particularly cool.

These Matthew Stafford stats show just how important Puka Nacua is to the Rams

Matthew Stafford’s numbers with and without Puka Nacua on the field are staggeringly different

No one should be surprised that the Los Angeles Rams’ offense has hit its stride since Puka Nacua returned. The second-year receiver is averaging 88.5 yards per game this season, and that includes two games where he played about a third of the snaps due to an injury and ejection.

While the entire offense has benefited from his return, Matthew Stafford has seen his numbers improve dramatically when Nacua is on the field. Pro Football Network uncovered just how different Stafford’s stats are with and without Nacua in the mix.

  • With Nacua on the field: 69.1% completion rate, 8.1 yards/attempt, 11 touchdowns, 2 interceptions (107.8 rating)
  • Without Nacua: 64.9% completion rate, 7.1 yards/attempt, 8 touchdowns, 6 interceptions (86.4 rating)

In the first six games of the season, Stafford had just three touchdown passes and four interceptions. He had zero games with multiple touchdown passes and only one game with 275-plus yards.

In the last seven games with Nacua back, he’s had six games with at least two touchdowns, five games with 275-plus yards and a total of 16 touchdowns to three interceptions.

The turnaround has been dramatic and it shows the value Nacua brings to the offense. When he’s healthy and available, the Rams are a much better team – and it’s no surprise they’re 5-3 with him on the field and 2-3 without him.

Puka Nacua’s toe-tapping catch was spectacular, but this angle shows how ridiculous the throw was

Puka Nacua’s sideline catch was awesome, but not many QBs could’ve made the throw that Matthew Stafford did

There was no shortage of highlight-reel plays in Sunday’s Rams-Bills game, from Los Angeles’ blocked punt to Khalil Shakir’s 51-yard touchdown. Above them all, however, was Puka Nacua’s toe-tapping catch along the sideline.

For a guy who’s made a ton of spectacular catches in his career already, this one was certainly up there among the best. Not only was it a great grab in a tight window, but his ability to keep his feet in bounds was incredible.

What shouldn’t be overlooked in that play is the throw by Matthew Stafford. Seriously, it might’ve been even better than the catch itself.

Sosa Kremenjas of Underdog Fantasy shared the end zone view of Stafford’s dime to Nacua and it’s hard to imagine many quarterbacks being able to make that throw. Not only was it 25 yards downfield, but it was from the right hash to the left sideline, making it an even longer throw into an opening the size of a car window.

Stafford, who turns 37 in February, has shown no signs of getting older or losing any of the arm strength he’s had throughout his career. This throw proves that.

He still has a cannon and he might be more accurate now than he was earlier in his career.

Only one QB in NFL history has more game-winning TD passes than Matthew Stafford

Only one QB has more game-winning TD passes than Matthew Stafford, and it’s a guy who’s calling Sunday’s Rams-Bills matchup

Matthew Stafford has long been one of the NFL’s most clutch quarterbacks, even before he got to Los Angeles and helped the Rams win a Super Bowl in his first season. Dating back to his days with the Lions, Stafford had a knack for leading game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks.

At this point in his career, he ranks fifth all-time with 47 game-winning drives and 36 fourth-quarter comebacks, and he’s within striking distance of first place on both of those lists.

When it comes to game-winning touchdown passes, there’s only one guy ahead of Stafford: Tom Brady. According to ESPN Research, as shared by Rams play-by-play announcer J.B. Long, Stafford’s 24 game-winning touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime are only five fewer than Brady’s 29.

Coincidentally, it’ll be Brady calling Stafford’s game on FOX this Sunday when the Rams host the Bills.

Stafford moved past Johnny Unitas for second all-time last week when he hit Puka Nacua for a game-winning touchdown against the Saints with 8:54 left in the fourth quarter. A month earlier, he threw the game-winner to Demarcus Robinson in overtime against the Seahawks, a 39-yard bomb deep down the field.

With how many close games Stafford has played throughout his career, it seems like he comes through in the clutch more often than not. The Rams might need another game-winner in the fourth quarter this weekend against the Bills, a team that’s won seven in a row and currently sits at 10-2 on the year.

Rams made big improvements in two key areas vs. Saints

The Rams finally made some strides in two critical areas, which was the difference in the game against the Saints

A lot of things have gone wrong for the Los Angeles Rams on offense this season. Between injuries, inefficient running and penalties, it’s been a struggle to get going on that side of the ball – a surprising development when you consider how much talent the Rams have on offense.

But two things have been the root issue for Los Angeles’ inability to put up points consistently: third down and red zone efficiency. Entering Week 13, the Rams ranked 25th in red zone touchdown percentage and 31st in third-down conversion rate.

On Sunday against the Saints, the Rams made huge strides in both areas. After going 0-for-8 on third down last week and starting Sunday’s game 0-for-2, the Rams moved the chains on four of their final seven third-down attempts to finish the game 4-for-9 – a respectable rate, one that allowed them to sustain drives and put up points in the second half.

In the red zone, the Rams had really struggled in their first 11 games of the season, settling for field goal after field goal. That was particularly troublesome given Joshua Karty’s inaccuracy, missing one field goal in each of his previous three games.

Against the Saints, the Rams were 3-for-3 when reaching the red zone, scoring touchdowns all three times. In a game they won 21-14, that was the difference. Rather than kicking three field goals and only coming away with nine points, they scored three touchdowns. One was a rushing score by Kyren Williams from 4 yards out and the other two were short touchdown receptions by Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua.

In a game where the Rams only ran 55 offensive plays and attempted just 24 passes, they needed to be as efficient as possible when given scoring opportunities. And they were.

If the Rams can continue to move the chains on third down and score touchdowns in the red area, they can be competitive against any team. That’s just a big “if” at this point in the year because as we’ve seen week in and week out, the offense is wildly inconsistent.

Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction and could lead to improvements from the offense as a whole. They’ll be tested in a big way against the 10-2 Bills, who are eighth in red zone defense but only 20th in third-down conversion rate allowed.

The Rams must score touchdowns instead of field goals this Sunday, given the fact that the Bills have scored at least 30 points in six straight games and boast one of the best offenses in the league.