Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams officially punched their ticket to the postseason with a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 15, becoming the first NFC team to clinch a playoff berth this season. It was a statement win, and Stafford was front and center-throwing for 368 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception on 24-of-38 passing. In his age-37 season, the veteran quarterback continues to show he’s got plenty left in the tank.
This marks the Rams’ 11th win of the year, and it’s not just about making the playoffs anymore-it’s about how far they can go. And for Stafford, the stakes are even bigger. He already has a Super Bowl ring from 2022, but another deep playoff run could cement his legacy in a much different way.
That legacy is very much part of the conversation right now. There’s been some debate about whether Stafford has done enough to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when his career wraps up. The numbers are solid, the Super Bowl title is there, but the résumé still has some holes-at least in the eyes of some analysts.
One of the talking points? The MVP race.
Stafford is very much in the thick of it this season. He’s thrown for 3,722 yards and leads the league with 37 touchdown passes against just five interceptions.
That kind of production, especially for a team that’s sitting atop the NFC West, puts him firmly in the conversation.
But it’s not a one-man race. Buffalo’s Josh Allen and New England rookie Drake Maye are also drawing serious attention in the MVP discussion. If Stafford can hold them off and win the award, it would be a major milestone-one that could all but lock up a future Hall of Fame nod, especially if it comes alongside another Super Bowl run.
Still, the MVP isn’t guaranteed. And if the Rams stumble in the playoffs and Stafford doesn’t walk away with the hardware, the Hall of Fame case gets a little murkier.
He’s been to just two Pro Bowls and has never been a serious MVP contender before this year. That’s the kind of detail that voters remember.
But here’s what we do know: Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career, and the Rams are surging at the right time. Next up?
A massive Week 16 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams are sitting at 11-3, tied atop the NFC West, and this one could go a long way in deciding the division crown.
Kickoff is set for Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lumen Field.
It’s a heavyweight battle with playoff seeding-and possibly more-on the line. For Stafford, it’s another chance to strengthen his MVP case and add another chapter to what’s already been a remarkable season.