Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could be the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 regular season, but the three-time Pro Bowler has added another accolade to his mantle in the meantime.
Stafford and the Rams tuned up for the Wild Card with a win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18 of the regular season.
It was a bounce-back outing for the team and the quarterback.
Matthew Stafford Wins In-Season Award
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the New Orleans Saints.
Stafford, 37, completed 62.5% of his passes for 259 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions in the Rams’ 37-20 win over the Cardinals in their regular-season finale. Stafford received recognition for his efforts.
“Nine so nice. [exhaling emoji],” the Rams posted on X on January 7. “Matthew Stafford is your NFC Offensive Player of the Week! [clapping hands emoji].”
That, of course, followed the official announcement from the NFL.
The passing yards marked Stafford’s seventh-fewest in a game during the 2025 regular season, but his 4 TD passes tied his second-best mark of the campaign and were his most since Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams shared a highlight reel in light of the QB’s honor, captioning it, “Matthew, and we cannot stress this enough, Stafford.”
Stafford led the NFL in passing TDs and yards during the regular season.
He set career-highs in TD passes, TD rate (in which he also led the NFL), and passer rating and set a new career-long pass with an 88-yard score to wide receiver Tutu Atwell. However, Stafford is not the consensus or even favorite to win the MVP after Week 18, as he once was.
Insider Passes on Matthew Stafford for MVP
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the San Francisco 49ers.
Pro Football Focus named Stafford its MVP, announcing the decision with a post on X on January 7. The outlet noted that he was the “Highest-graded QB overall” as well as when he was “kept clean,” on throws made 20-plus yards down the field, and on play-action.
However, ESPN’s Dan Graziano argued against Stafford and in favor of the Rams QB’s New England Patriots counterpart, Drake Maye.
Graziano called it a “myth” that Stafford should win the MVP due to facing a tougher schedule.
Graziano argued that advanced metrics prove that Maye “has just simply been better” than Stafford, pointing to the Patriots QB outperforming the Rams Super Bowl champion against similar (namely, lesser) competition.
“Give the award to Stafford if you want, but don’t do it because of relative strength of schedule,” Graziano wrote on January 6. “Maye had the better year, even once we adjust for that.”
Matthew Stafford By The Numbers
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass against the Tennessee Titans.
Stafford finished the regular season having led the Rams to a 12-5 record, their best since the Super Bowl-winning 2021 season. This also marked the second time he has played in all 17 games during his tenure.
The other was, again, the Super Bowl run in 2021.
Stafford ranked fourth in pass attempts and tied for the fourth-lowest interception rate among 38 qualifying passers. He was also effective situationally.
“Matthew Stafford has thrown 27 touchdown passes against the blitz,” ESPN Insights posted on X on January 7. “That is more than 22 teams had in overall passing touchdowns this season so far [flushed emoji].”
Stafford might not win the MVP over Maye, but he has had a remarkable season for the Rams.
Stafford and the Rams would almost certainly trade the MVP for another Super Bowl victory after a season that aligned so closely in many different ways.
Rams Announce Matthew Stafford News After NFL Makes Decision