A lackluster Matthew Stafford performance in Week 12 could have a ripple effect

The 8-2 Los Angeles Rams are not perfect by any means. Nor should anyone expect them to be. No NFL coach wants his team to peak too soon. Right now, seven games remain on the schedule. That means there is plenty of football remaining. Championship teams want to peak during the postseason. The NFL playoffs are still two months away.

Los Angeles is fighting fires on multiple fronts. There are problems on special teams, challenges that are only now being addressed. There is a sudden epidemic of injuries that sent three starters to injured reserve after Week 11. Finally, there is the pedestrian offensive output that required four interceptions against the Seattle Seahawks to win a game by a mere two points.

Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled mightily. He completed just 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. He did throw two touchdowns to no interceptions, but it was the first game of 2025 in which he looked every bit of 37 years old.

Why has Week 12 setting up as such a turning point for the Rams offense?

For the first nine games of the season, veteran Matthew Stafford has shocked everyone with performances that catapulted him to the top of the NFL quarterback ranks. Even now, he leads the entire NFL in tossing touchdowns, while also leading the NFL in tossing the fewest number of interceptions.

But some areas are simply not keeping pace. Once a top-three quarterback in terms of passing yards, he has slid to seventh place. In terms of completion rates, he is currently ranked 19th. In terms of quarterback rating, he is third in traditional rating, but sixth in QBR (adjusted quarterback rating). These trends are tracking in the wrong direction.

Sound the alarm. An offense that was slicing through opposing defenses like a hot knife through butter struggled. If it were just one game, it would be a valuable lesson. If it happens again? It's an alarming trend that has to be corrected immediately.

Even as teams jockey for position in a frantic push for the playoffs, Los Angeles is fighting those fires on multiple fronts. There can only be so much coaching to go around, and LA may have reached a saturation point. Week 12 is a key matchup because the offense should have enough weaponry to get the job done.

Matthew Stafford is a cagey veteran who knows what's at stake. After a bit of a down game in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he returned to shred the Indianapolis Colts for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Fans would love to see history repeat itself in Week 12.

If the Horns put up plenty of points, all's well. But if the offense struggles again? Well, that's an entirely different narrative. While there is plenty of football remaining to be played, one thing is clear to all 32 teams. It's time to get better, or get ready for the 2026 NFL Draft.

As always, thanks for reading.