The veteran quarterback was revived thanks to the energy of his talented young teammates.
The budding young stars have gained focus and work ethic from their quarterback’s wealth of knowledge and experience.
The Los Angeles Rams have transformed themselves into Super Bowl contenders behind the play of Matthew Stafford, who has never looked better producing as well as any signal-caller throughout his 17th season.
But it’s a defense behind a pair of high-motor edge rushers, Jared Verse and Byron Young, that has transformed the team into a complete force, while leading tackler Nate Landman has been the ideal complement as a linebacker to a group that is second in the NFL with 17.2 points allowed per game.
There is other evidence that Stafford did not act in isolation. Puka Nacua continued his rise to the top of the wide receiver charts with the third-most receptions in the NFL with 72, while fellow forward Davante Adams has the 10 best TD receptions in the league.
Running back Kyren Williams continues to grow with 750 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while sophomore running back Blake Corum is also improving.
And the Rams secondary benefited from the monster pass rush with 10 interceptions to be among seven teams with double-digit picks.
Head coach Sean McVay once again stayed ahead with three tight ends on offense that expanded the passing game, even though the most veteran player at the position, Tyler Higbee, just hit injured reserve.
The Rams still have a plethora of tight end talent with Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson and rookie Terrance Ferguson. All of these abilities inspired McVay to bring as many of them onto the field as possible.
In addition to Higbee being on IR this week with an ankle injury, safety Quentin Lake (elbow) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle, knee) were also designated to miss at least four weeks.
Injuries might be the only thing keeping the Rams from a deep playoff run, especially with the passing game. When the Rams suffered injuries early in each of the last two seasons, they struggled early. As both seasons progressed and their health improved, they were able to put together runs that led to unlikely playoff berths.
Going further back to 2022, it was Stafford who was injured, missing eight of the last nine games as the team slumped to a 5-12 record. It was the worst campaign in the previous eight seasons McVay was head coach in Los Angeles.
This week, the Rams are on a collision course with memories of that 2022 season, which McVay viewed as a time of personal growth.
“It was a really difficult time (that) exposed a lot of insecurities and shortcomings that I had and had for a long time,” McVay said during a conference call with media this week. “It just didn’t come to light because we didn’t have the results that revealed some of the things I needed to work on. … It makes you look in the mirror and say, ‘What am I doing?'”
With Stafford out this season and the losses piling up, the Rams added Baker Mayfield, who had been released by the Carolina Panthers.
Against all odds, McVay and Mayfield formed a partnership that led to two straight victories. One of them was a two-touchdown comeback in the final 3:19 of a prime-time game against the Las Vegas Raiders that helped revive Mayfield’s career.
Mayfield said the short stay in Los Angeles was “crucial in my journey.” He ended up signing with the Buccaneers in the offseason and was named to back-to-back Pro Bowls in his first two years in Tampa Bay.
“It helped me rediscover the joy of football, that joy,” Mayfield said this week. “And just learning from these (coaches).”
A two-time Super Bowl participant and champion after the 2021 season, McVay seemed to turn a corner that season as well. He brings his team back to the top with his new perspectives.
Seeing Mayfield as an opponent this week will be a reminder of what a roller coaster ride it has been.
If 2022 has been a valley for McVay and the Rams, 2025 has been a continued climb for a coach and quarterback in Stafford who know what it takes to win.
It’s been a process, but the Rams do indeed feel young again.
