If Matthew Stafford wins another Super Bowl, it could give him a solid reputation that could eventually lead to him being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ veteran quarterback continues to climb the NFL’s all-time passing game rankings.
When the Rams travel to Soldier Field on Sunday to play the Chicago Bears, Stafford needs 223 yards passing to pass Eli Manning and move into 10th place in career passing yards.
During a 16-year career with the New York Giants, Manning won two Super Bowls and threw for 57,023 yards. Stafford, in his 16th season and fourth with the Rams, threw for 56,801 yards.
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Manning, who is eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time, passed for 366 touchdowns, which ranks him 10th all-time. Stafford passed for 359.
Stafford, 36, is coming off another clutch performance in the Rams’ 27-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers, engineering a fourth-quarter touchdown drive and the game-winning field-goal drive for his 36th comeback victory.
According to profootballreference.com, Stafford is tied with Drew Brees for fifth on the list of all-time comebacks, trailing only Tom Brady, the leader with 46, Peyton Manning (43), Ben Roethlisberger (41) and Matt Ryan (38).
“Anytime you get mentioned with guys like Drew Brees, who’s done such great things in this league for such a long time, it’s just humbling to be in that same breath,” Stafford said before practice Wednesday. “So I have a lot of respect for him and who he was as a player.”
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Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl title to close out the 2009 season. Stafford, who played 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions before being traded in 2021, led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI in his first season with them.
He said fourth quarter comebacks are great.
“It means your team can count on you in those moments,” Stafford said, before jokingly adding a caveat. “They’re not that great either: it means you were behind — so play better in the top three.
“Football is a funny game sometimes. One great quarter can erase three bad quarters. So take them when you can get them. It’s hard to go out there and play four perfect quarters.”
Stafford’s performance against the 49ers was impressive, considering the Rams were missing star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
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The Rams trailed by 14 points at the start of the game and by 10 points at the end.
“That patience and ability to just play one play at a time was key to the composure that was reflected,” coach Sean McVay said of Stafford.
Stafford connected with receiver Tutu Atwell for a 50-yard pass that set up Kyren Williams’ touchdown run and Joshua Karty’s tying conversion kick. Tight end Colby Parkinson was called for a pass interference penalty that helped set up Karty’s winning field goal.
Etc.
Kupp is out of a cast on his injured left ankle. Kupp, who is out indefinitely, and receiver Nacua (knee), who is on the injured list, performed rehab drills with trainers after the Rams’ walk-through. … Cornerback Darious Williams (hamstring) is eligible to return from the injured list after the Rams play the Bears, but McVay did not give a timetable for when he would be designated to return. “He’s progressing well,” McVay said. “As far as when he can return, we haven’t made a decision yet.” … Tight end Davis Allen, who sat out the 49ers game with a back injury, returned to practice and was limited, according to the injury report.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
