Matthew Stafford-Puka Nacua connection on pace to set new NFL gold standard

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, some are beginning to question whether he is saving his best for last. After all, the 37-year-old signal-caller is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history.

Currently 10th among all-time passers, Stafford is on track to rise rapidly this season, perhaps as high as to flirt with passing former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, currently in fifth place with 64,088 passing yards.

But that is not Stafford's only superpower.

The former Georgia Bulldog throws one of the most catchable footballs as well. That's not just based on testimonials. The statistics prove it. The record for the most receiving yards in a single season is held by Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson with 1,964 yards in 2012. Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp nearly beat the record with 1,947 receiving yards in 2021.

And if you want to focus on records, rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua set an NFL most with 1,486 receiving yards in 2023.

Guess who was the quarterback in all three scenarios:

What is it about Stafford that makes him so effective at getting the football to his receivers? Well, he throws a catchable football. But he is the master of the no-look pass, a savvy move that pulls coverage away from the receiver.

Perhaps most of all, he is ultra-competitive, which emboldens him to throw passes into tight coverages, gambling on his passing and his receiver's catching ability to complete the pass.

Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua on pace to set a new gold standard

Nacua stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 216 pounds. He is not considered particularly fast for his position, clocked running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at his combine. But straight-line speed is a small component in an NFL wide receiver's arsenal of getting separation.

Nacua has developed a mastery of other components, such as a command of precise route running, a physical presence that can out-muscle defensive backs for the football, and he has learned the bobs, weaves, double-moves, and head bobs from his veteran teammate, Davante Adams.

And that has amplified Nacua's superb skill set to among the best of the best.

In five games, Nacua has hauled in 52 of 62 passes (nearly an 84-percent catch rate) for 588 receiving yards and two touchdowns. That's a tremendous pace, one that could shatter the existing single-season receiving record. Just to put this into perspective, the former BYU receiver is on pace to smash 1,000 receiving yards by Game 9.

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes described Nacua as currently the best offensive player in football. And despite facing some stingy NFL defenses in just five weeks, he continues to dare defenses to stop him. So far, he has faced three of the top 15 defenses, and has at best, only been slowed a bit.

Los Angeles possesses enough weapons to make it difficult for any defense to shut the NFL's leading receiver. It has Adams, who commands double-coverage on almost every play. And the offense boasts speedster Tutu Atwell, who forces secondaries to have a defensive back deep as well.

Is this the new NFL gold standard? It's difficult not to see the duo of Stafford and Nacua combining for 2,000 yards this season. After all, when LA needs a completion or first down, Nacua is there to deliver. And with the offense seemingly struggling at times at certain aspects of the roster, there are no blowouts likely to prompt head coach Sean McVay to sit starters before games end.

Consider the 177 receptions out of 211 targets for 1,999 yards and seven touchdowns. That's how Nacua's numbers project out over a 17-game season. Can he make it there? That remains to be seen.

But for now, there is no signs of Stafford slowing down at throwing to him. And better still, there are no signs of an NFL secondary stopping the receiver either.

As always, thanks for reading.

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