Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been playing some of the best football of his career of late, and the NFL is giving him some recognition.
Stafford was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November, a month in which he completed 66.7 percent of his passes, for 1,207 yards, and threw 15 touchdowns.
The Rams went 4-1 in November, and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award became a two-man race between Stafford and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
With five games left in the season, Stafford is hoping to lead his Rams into a spot that Stafford’s team has never finished the season in: Having the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Matthew Stafford has had a lot of good days during the 2025 season, but the Rams quarterback is no stranger to bad days.
Stafford went through his share of rough times while playing 12 years for the Lions and it hasn’t always been roses in Los Angeles, which is illustrated by the fact that he is the NFL’s active leader in interceptions. Two of his 192 career picks came in last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers and Stafford also lost a fumble in that game, but his long history in the league has left him confident in his ability to turn the page.
“I’ve played in a lot of games now, so [moving on] just feels like it comes easy to me,” Stafford said, via the team’s website. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t care about each and every single one of them and do everything I can to try and help us win each and every one of them. But I do know that, unless it’s the last game of the year, there’s another one coming, and you better be ready for it”
The Rams’ loss knocked them out of the top position in the NFC playoff picture, but Stafford shrugged that off as well by noting that “I’ve never had it, so I couldn’t tell you” how important it is to the team’s chances. With a lot of big games ahead for all of the NFC contenders, the Rams could find themselves back at the top if Stafford’s rebound comes as quickly as he believes it will.
Rams coach Sean McVay said earlier this week that injuries to wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Kyren Williams should not affect their game status for Week 14.
Adams’ hamstring soreness, though, kept him out of Wednesday’s practice.
He played 39 snaps and made four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams’ ankle injury limited him in the first practice of the week.
He left the loss to the Panthers, playing 35 of 52 snaps and running for 72 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
The Rams also had cornerback Darious Williams (tibia) and nose tackle Poona Ford (calf) as non-participants.
Safety Kamren Kinchens (shoulder), inside linebacker Omar Speights (ankle) and outside linebacker Byron Young (knee) were limited.
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) fully participated.
Before Week 13, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was the betting favorite for MVP. After Week 13, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has reclaimed that status.
Regardless of where the odds go as to the two of them, it has become for now a two-man race.
Maye currently has -135 odds to win the MVP award. Stafford, previously the only player in negative territory, is +135.
The next player on the list is Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, at +1500. (Packers quarterback Jordan Love is next, at +1900.)
The odds can change. The odds will change. Ultimately, it comes down to the ballots cast by the 50 Associated Press voters, only days after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season.
If the Patriots end up with the No. 1 seed in the AFC, Maye’s case gets much stronger. If the Rams also end up with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, things get complicated.
Stafford’s case could be influenced by the fact that he’s been playing since 2009, and that he’s never been a serious contender for the MVP award. That shouldn’t matter, but any process determined by voting choices made by a collection of human beings can be swayed by other factors.
Maye will have many more years to be the MVP, one or more times. Stafford is far closer to the end of the road. If not now, he may never win it.
Again, that shouldn’t matter. It’s impossible to know with any certainty whether it will. Even after the AP posts the full ballots from all voters, after the awards are announced.
Rams running back Kyren Williams and wide receiver Davante Adams came out of Sunday’s game with no concerning injuries, coach Sean McVay said Monday.
“Nothing that we expect to restrict guys from being available this week,” McVay said, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “We might limit some guys in practice once we see how they come in [Tuesday], but nothing that we expect to affect game statuses for Arizona.”
Williams left the loss to the Panthers with an ankle issue. He played 35 of 52 snaps and had 13 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown.
McVay said Williams’ ankle was “pretty good,” as the scar tissue from previous injuries made it easier to deal with in-game.
Adams had hamstring soreness but played 39 snaps and made four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.
