For years, Matthew Stafford‘s arrival in Lambeau Field usually meant a visit from an outstanding quarterback and a subpar Detroit Lions team. Detroit gave Green Bay some problems with Stafford, but nothing overwhelming.
Now Stafford is running the show for the Los Angeles Rams. There is top-tier talent all around him in an offense built for the quarterback to flourish. This isn’t the same old Stafford the Packers will be seeing on Sunday.
The good news for the Green Bay defense is that Stafford has been a turnover machine in the last two games. He’s thrown for four combined interceptions and only two touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers. Those turnovers allowed both Tennessee and San Francisco to jump out to early leads and not look back. The Packers’ defense is highly opportunistic, sitting at fourth in the NFL this year in takeaways. They will hope the Stafford of late comes out to play again on Sunday, even though the bye week allowed LA added time to try and fix those mistakes.
In the season at large, Stafford has been nails for the Rams. According to PFF, he and Aaron Rodgers have been topping the charts in quarterback efficiency this year.
Stafford has always been a solid quarterback, but the trade that sent him to LA in the offseason has shined a light on how good he can be when surrounded by competence. Once Calvin Johnson retired, it often felt like it was Stafford against the world every Sunday. With the Rams, he’s in an offense designed by Sean McVay to maximize the quarterback’s options.
Green Bay is used to seeing Stafford sling it around somewhat recklessly while trying to drag Detroit along with him. This weekend, they’ll be preparing for a quarterback who has found a breath of fresh air in new surroundings on an offense that is as explosive as it gets. Stafford vs. Rodgers will draw some of the headlines, but it’s worth noting that Rodgers has always been a huge fan of the veteran quarterback.
Rodgers has spoken glowingly about Stafford many times in the past, most recently when he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I’m a huge Stafford fan,” Rodgers said. “I have been for a long time. We’ve played against him for so many years. One of the most gifted throwers of the football definitely in my generation. I put him up there with some of the most gifted guys to ever throw the football. You know, I’m a fan. He’s a tough dude. He’s played through some crazy injuries. He played in Detroit all those years. You got to have a base level of mental fortitude already. I’m a big fan. He’s had a really nice season. I mean, they’re 7-3. He’s played really well. First year in the system, so I’m not here for any Matthew Stafford trash talk.”
Truer words may not exist than Rodgers’ suggestion that it must require an exceptional level of mental fortitude to be the long-time quarterback for the Lions.
This isn’t the same Stafford with the same structure waltzing into Lambeau Field on Sunday. Instead, it’s a team that is right in the conversation when discussing who can emerge from the NFC and possibly win a Super Bowl this year. Stafford has never even won a playoff game in his career, but that absolutely could change this year.
LA inked Odell Beckham Jr. to a deal just two weeks ago, giving Stafford another solid option on offense. They added Von Miller on defense. If there were any question about this front office and their belief in Stafford to take them to the promised land, they were put to rest by the aggressive moves they have made in-season. Green Bay will have their hands full on Sunday.
The Packers’ defense will look to bounce back in their own right after the Minnesota Vikings hung 34 on them in Week 11. Joe Barry’s unit had been lights-out for over a month before the letdown against Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. One lingering question is the availability of edge rusher Rashan Gary. He couldn’t go against Minnesota, and his absence contributed to a wildly inconsistent pass rush all afternoon in Minneapolis. Gary’s return would go a long way in trying to make life difficult for Stafford in the pocket.
This isn’t the same old Matthew Stafford rolling into Green Bay on Sunday. This is a much more confident version of the gunslinging quarterback who finally has the structure and talent around him to make plenty of noise in the NFC.
