Rams Mike LaFleur says the quiet part out loud about Matthew Stafford's success

What is the difference maker for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025? After all, it was only two seasons earlier that this team had dug itself into a 3-6 hole, and yet still managed to compete in the NFL playoffs with a 10-7 record. It seems that a 7-2 record is a much better starting position for postseason competition.

One key difference-maker is the offense's sudden explosiveness once more. Fans can point at and appreciate the elite play of wide receiver Puka Nacua, the scoring prowess of wide receiver Davante Adams, or the sudden success of 13-personnel in a once-wide receiver-heavy offense, but one common element binds all these factors.

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing at an All-Pro level.. And Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is more than happy to talk about it.

LaFleur is not wrong. Whether surrounded by a cast of elite offensive weapons or a cast of guys who struggled to compete in the NFL, Stafford will compete as long as he is conscious. And it's that refusal to leave a game with time remaining despite injuries that has made him so dangerous, and so uncertain. At 37 years old, he has seen his fair share of injuries, all of which are catching up to him.

But he has seen it all on the football field, too.

Matthew Stafford is the perfect counter-balance for Sean McVay

Matthew Stafford is the perfect quarterback for head coach Sean McVay's offense. McVay can draw up offensive plays to give the quarterback counters to nearly every defensive scheme. But the quarterback must recognize where to throw the football. Stafford can do that.

But the former Georgia Bulldog quarterback does so much more than just read defenses. When the play breaks down, he improvises. He can make up offensive strategies at the first sign of trouble. And that makes LA's offense that much more dangerous.

It's unpredictable.

But that has not prevented McVay from overcoaching his veteran quarterback. On a recent broadcast of The Inner Circle, Stafford replayed how McVay's zeal for communicating plays to his quarterback quickly devolves into sheer comedy. It's worth checking out.

This is the quarterback who struggled to suit up in training camp. Now, he's playing lights out. What gives? Evidence suggests that Stafford has stepped back and is enjoying the game better than at any time in his 17-year career. That newly rediscovered passion for the game allows him to take what defenses give him.

For the wily veteran, that's quite a bit.

But despite the early success, this team has its toughest games ahead. Once such a momentous challenge is Week 11, and hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Still, as long as Stafford is playing lights out. As long as he is in the pocket, Los Angeles has a chance of winning.

As always, thanks for reading.