Matthew Stafford proves all doubters wrong as he dominates Bucs in Week 12

The narrative about Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has been an emotional roller coaster this season. From difficult contract negotiations to training camp back injury, the story of Stafford has been a difficult one to tell, and even harder to follow. But in a season in which the NFL analysts agreed might be the girl-dad quarterback's last, he has stymied thoughts with one of his best seasons.

Matthew Stafford entered Week 12 with 2,557 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. But Stafford clearly struggled in Week 11, throwing for just 130 passing yards. He was saved by the defense, which put up four interceptions. That set up this Sunday Night Football game to be a litmus test as to how solid the former Georgia Bulldog is.

Well, the answer was as swift as it was spectacular. The gunslinger came out shooting, quickly connecting on his first dozen or so passes that resulted in the team putting up the first 21 points before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would score.

Matthew Stafford is on fire right now

The Rams retook the football field in the second half with a lead of 31 to 7. While that was an ideal scenario to gear down to the running back, that is not what this offense decided to do. Despite the team playing without wide receivers Xavier Smith, Tutu Atwell, and tight end Tyler Higbee, the offense pooh-poohed running the football.

Stafford has been red hot. He has thrown two or more passing touchdowns in five consecutive games.

It's tough to take the football out of a quarterback's hands, let alone a hot-handed Stafford. But with an offense already down three key receivers, it's risky to keep pushing the best players to compete in a game with a 24-point lead. Offensive players let up. No points were scored in the third quarter. The Rams put up just three points in the fourth quarter.

Dramatic win? Not in this one. The 37-year-old quarterback made sure of that. But after a win in Week 11 that cost the team three starters, a non-dramatic win was overdue.

As always, thanks for reading.