[
247sports.com]
Los Angeles Rams 'counting on' Matthew Stafford to take 'major jump' in 2021
ByNICK KOSKO Jul 13, 5:11 PM
0
Expect the Chargers to challenge the Chiefs this year in the AFC West
Matthew Stafford might see a career resurgence with the Los Angeles Rams. While he wasn’t struggling during his final days with the Detroit Lions, he was getting banged up and didn’t see much postseason success.
Now working under head coach Sean McVay, Stafford is set up for success in a new, up-tempo, spread-it-out type of offense. Most pundits see Stafford giving the Rams Super Bowl hype in 2021.
ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler broke down why Stafford got a bump in his quarterback rankings. The rankings were compiled by polling sources around the league.
"He basically got a four-spot, Sean McVay bump — he went from 10 last year with the Lions to six this year without doing anything,” Fowler said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Simply, he's now with Sean McVay. ... People around the league believe he'll get a spike just from being in a better offense, a more-capable team. They say, 'Look, this guy is crazy talented. He's been disguised in Detroit.' And maybe he'll let everybody down. He hasn't won a playoff game. Maybe he'll be that same guy in LA. But they're counting on him taking a major jump and getting a career reset in a big way."
Back in June, McVay said Stafford was “as advertised” when getting his first up close look at him in practice.
"Bro, this dude's a bad MF-er," McVay said of Stafford last month, via NFL.com. "Whatever people say about him, as good as it can be, he's even better than advertised. It makes sense to him. The guy's ability to see the game, his ability to draw on his experiences, the feel that he has, it's pretty special and unique. And man, his feel for people, his authentic way of connecting with his teammates, his coaches, this guy, it's great being around him."
Last season, Stafford started all 16 games for the first time since 2018 after playing just eight in 2019. He finished the season with 4,084 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 64.2% completion percentage and 112 rushing yards. In his career, Stafford has 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns, 144 interceptions, a 62.6% completion percentage, 1,198 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
Stafford’s best season came in 2011 with the Lions when he finished the year with 5,038 yards, 41 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 63.5% completion percentage.
Among his weapons with the Rams, Stafford will get to throw to Cooper Kpp, Robert Woods, DeSean Jackson, Van Jefferson and hand off to former Florida State star Cam Akers.
Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today.
The Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to open the 2021 regular season at home against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 12th at 8:20 p.m. ET.
