Rams fans risk getting riled up in the latest Fox Sports QB rankings

When the Los Angeles Rams traded former quarterback Jared Goff plus three draft picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, it was an event that would alter two NFL franchises instantly and permanently. For the Rams, Matthew Stafford proved to be the missing link as he is the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the Rams for the city of Los Angeles, California.

For the Detroit Lions, it gave their team an elite quarterback to build around for their run in the NFL Playoffs.

But all along, the age difference of these two quarterbacks sat as a non-issue, a back-burner attribute that was insignificant. Until now, that is. The latest NFL quarterback rankings from Fox Sports have LA Rams veteran QB Matthew Stafford trailing Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Godd. And as much as it may pain some to accept it, the rankings are steeped in objective logic.

In the past three seasons, veteran QB Matthew Stafford has not been in peak form. He has averaged 3,271 passing yards, 291 of 447 completed passes (a 65.1 completion rate), 18 touchdown passes versus 9 interceptions per season. While his completion is better than his career average, his average production over the past three seasons is coming in under what many expected.

Rams need a resurgent Matthew Stafford

The Rams have begun to hedge their bets against a precipitous drop in Stafford's production. For the second consecutive season, the Rams have opted to sign veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo to back up Stafford in case of injury. Meanwhile, the team has opted to engage Stafford's services on a year-to-year basis. That means that the team will need to secure Stafford at the end of each season, or be prepared to address the quarterback position with an alternative.

What is the solution? Have the Rams simply hit a lower plateau with Stafford?

While that is the simplest answer, it's far from the most accurate. Since leading the team to a victory in Super Bowl LVI, Matthew Stafford has struggled to stay healthy. We know that he suffered a bruised spinal cord in 2022. He suffered an injured thumb on his throwing hand in 2023. And we also know that he suffered a painful rib injury in 2024.

Over the same period, QB Jared Goff has played all 51 games for the Detroit Lions, has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, and thrown for 96 touchdowns to just 31 interceptions.

No, this is not a buyer's remorse article. The Rams have absolutely benefited from that 2021 trade. But I'm not about to rewrite the accomplishments of Jared Goff just to skew the trade even more in favor of the Rams side of the equation. You see, there is one fact that the Fox Sports ranking omits.

Since joining the Rams organization, veteran QB Matthew Stafford is 5-2 in postseason competition. At the same time, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff is just 2-2 in postseason competition. The Rams clearly have an edge when the going gets tough. But to get to the NFL Playoffs, the Rams need a much better season out of Stafford.

Perhaps the vastly different types of players added to this offense are simply the result of the Rams seeking the best combination of offensive weapons to unlock the best of their veteran quarterback in 2025.

As always, thanks for reading.

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