QB Matthew Stafford is truly the LA Rams’ comeback kid

There are quarterbacks who simply cannot find a way to win if they are behind and time is running out in the game. To that group, add those additional quarterbacks who crack a bit under pressure, when the intensity is elevated, when the head is turned up, and with all eyes upon him, who struggle to lead the team to a game-winning drive in posted season.

Now add to that group all of the quarterbacks in the NFL who tried, and failed, to come back from a deficit to win a Super Bowl.  In the end, you will have quite the list of NFL quarterbacks, and some of them are quite famous.

But I can guarantee that LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is not one of them.

Matthew Stafford is the quarterback who found himself on the hook for creating wins for the LA Rams, despite a host of adversity that befell the team.

Revolving door receivers

His only certain receiving target in any given week were wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson. Stafford began the season by throwing to Kupp, Jefferson, WR Robert Woods, WR DeSean Jackson, TE Tyler Higbee, and TE Johnny Mundt.

But by Super Bowl LVI, Stafford was throwing to Kupp, Jefferson, WR Odell Beckham Jr (for the first half of the game), WR Ben Skowronek, and TE Brycen Hopkins.

If that wasn’t enough, the LA Rams were supposed to deliver a solid rushing attack. That running game seemed to be very dependent upon starting offensive center Coleman Shelton and running the ball with Sony Michel. If they were not both starting for the Rams offense, the running game never seemed to appear.

Neither player saw a great deal of action in the post-season. Michel carried the ball 26 times for 80 yards on 89 offensive snaps. Shelton was used as an extra offensive lineman, and on special teams.

If there were any doubts about the quality of Matthew Stafford, particularly his ability to win the Big Game, those doubts can be put to rest. Instead, the Rams must work very hard to create a far more balanced offense that is far less dependent upon Stafford setting single-season passing records, and more about delivering the type of offense that can control the clock to close out the game as well.