LOS ANGELES — Week after week, Matthew Stafford and Terrance Ferguson were inches apart from a big connection. A slight overthrow by the veteran quarterback. A route run just out of rhythm by the Rams’ rookie tight end.
Through it all, Stafford stayed calm. A quick point to the spot he wanted Ferguson to settle into the zone. A little clap, then a high-five as the rookie returned to the huddle.
“Running those routes, talk with him, what he wants me to do and kind of see it through his eyes. He’s great about it, he does a great job of teaching me and I just try to listen as much as as I can to a great like that,” Ferguson said. “But he’s also just a great guy about it. He’s not coming down on people for missing little things but gives a lot of grace to everybody.”
As the Rams (11-5) prepare for their regular-season finale Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals (3-13), Stafford will put the finishing touches on his 17th season, one that he believes ranks among his best.
His 42 passing touchdowns – which lead the NFL – are a career high. His 4,448 passing yards are second in the league. He is fifth among quarterbacks in estimated points added per play (0.218) and third in success rate (53.1%). And he’s done it all against one of the toughest schedules in the NFL, while throwing just eight interceptions.
The performance has put Stafford firmly in the MVP conversation alongside New England quarterback Drake Maye.
“It’s up there with some of the better ones I’ve played,” Stafford admitted. “The cool thing about that is I have such a great group around me. You guys see me play and I can’t go out there and scramble around, hold the ball for 10 seconds and then go on a 30-yard run. I have 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 as I can.”
Elevating his teammates has been a Stafford hallmark throughout his career. The historic receiving seasons he’s been a part of – from Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record in 2012 to Cooper Kupp’s triple-crown year in 2021 to Puka Nacua’s rookie receiving record in 2023 – are well-documented. But he’s also brought up the play of his role players.
That’s been the case this season, too, even as Nacua and Davante Adams have chased the NFL lead in receiving yards and touchdowns. Sixth-year tight end Colby Parkinson has set career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Receiver Xavier Smith caught all of two passes a year ago, but has emerged as the Rams’ third receiver in 2025, averaging 17.5 yards per reception on 17 catches this year.
“I think one of the biggest compliments … is do you elevate the people you’re around and the situations you’re a part of?” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “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.”
Stafford jokes that he’d expect most receivers would say a healthy number of targets make a quarterback receiver-friendly. He also expects his placement of the ball, trying to ensure he doesn’t set guys up for injury, plays a part, too.
But his teammates and coaches point to something else as the real tide that raises everyone’s level of play.
“I think the level of communication,” Nacua said, “and how much that builds understanding and trust.”
Either in practice or in games, there’s nothing demonstrative about how Stafford teaches his teammates. He reserves any displays of frustration for when he misses a throw rather than when a receiver drops a pass.
Instead, he uses targeted feedback that helps players get on the same page as him for how to run routes against different coverages.
“He’s able to talk to these guys but not overly say anything where they can still go out and play fast,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “He gives them one or two pointers on what he’s thinking and what he’s seeing and it’s extremely easy to understand what he’s asking from them and they’re able to go out there and do it.”
Stafford will get to make a closing case to awards voters Sunday. But whether or not he adds MVP to his résumé, Stafford can sleep easy knowing he’s put his team and teammates in a position to succeed in January.
“I’m not too worried about it. People are going to vote how they want to vote,” Stafford said. “Nobody on our team feels like we’re bigger than the team and we’re all excited to do our role as best that we possibly can. That’s our attitude. That’s our thought process really the whole season and moving forward. Do the best you can for your role and that’ll elevate the people around you.”
ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-13) at RAMS (11-5)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 228, 384
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