Rams QB Matthew Stafford Remains firmly in NFL MVP Race as Regular Season nears its conclusion

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- The arrival of Week 18 in the NFL season marks the end of the road for some — and the beginning for others. The final week signifies the conclusion of a season headlined by thrilling finishes, spectacular performances and parity around the league. 

For Matthew Stafford, it presents a chance to bring home his first MVP in his illustrious 17-year career.

The 37-year-old Rams quarterback has turned in not only his best season as a Ram, but of his NFL career. The former first overall pick out of Georgia has tossed a league-leading and career-high 42 touchdowns while completing 65.2% of his passes for the NFL’s second-most yards (4,448), trailing just behind Dallas gunslinger Dak Prescott by 34 yards. Stafford ranks inside the top five in categories such as QBR (70.1) and passer rating (108.8).

While the NFL world has debated who should win the award, the two-time Pro Bowler’s focus is elsewhere.

“People are going to vote how they want to vote,” Stafford said. “I’m just trying to put as good of a season together as I possibly can. Our last opportunity to do that is coming up this weekend, and I’m excited about that chance.”

The Super Bowl 56 champion’s season has featured one of the most impressive stretches of his career. From Week 4 to Week 12, Stafford threw 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions over an eight-game span.

Stafford offered his viewpoint on how this season compares to others and credited his teammates for his success.

“It’s [the season] up there with some of the better ones I’ve played,” Stafford said. “The cool thing about that is I have such a great group around me. I try to do my best to get the best out of those guys and help them succeed.”

Rams head coach Sean McVay has advocated for Stafford since his arrival in Los Angeles in 2021 — something that has yet to waver in five seasons together. McVay acknowledges Stafford’s intelligence and recognizes the importance of having a smart player under center.

“He’s so knowledgeable,” McVay said. “I think one of the most impressive things about him is that he’s got great range, and that’s not exclusive to football.”

Entering Week 17, Stafford was the odds-on favorite to win the MVP after throwing for 457 yards and three touchdowns in a Thursday Night thriller in Seattle. Despite losing 38-37 in overtime and falling out of first place, Stafford had an MVP performance. However, a three-interception performance on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons flipped the odds in favor of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

The 23-year-old first-round pick out of UNC has tossed 30 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while leading New England to a 13-3 record in his second NFL season.

Stafford will get his chance to bounce back and erase the memory of his performance on Monday Night Football in the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, as head coach Sean McVay has confirmed that starters, including Stafford, will play regardless of the result in Saturday’s contest between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

A subpar performance against the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough for Drake Maye could thrust Stafford back into the driver’s seat as the regular season concludes.

With just one week remaining, it is likely a two-man race for the Most Valuable Player award — between the sophomore standout Maye and the 17-year veteran Stafford.