Why Rams' Matthew Stafford nonetheless has far more interceptions than touchdown passes

Matthew Stafford will not go into a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the San Francisco 49ers driving an evident wave of creation.

The Rams quarterback did not throw a touchdown pass in past Sunday’s victory about the Arizona Cardinals, the first time considering that the 2020 year — when Stafford performed for the Detroit Lions — that the 14th-calendar year professional was shut out.

But Stafford and coach Sean McVay are hardly concerned.

For the very first time in 3 games, Stafford did not have a move intercepted. And at minimum just one prospective touchdown was botched by a receiver.

“My key objective is set up as quite a few factors as we can and win the match,” Stafford mentioned Thursday. “There have been some alternatives that I could have accomplished a tiny little bit better job, so I’ll test to make absolutely sure I do that and get us in the stop zone additional often.”

Stafford has handed for 4 touchdowns, with five interceptions.

He is finishing 72.6% of his passes, which ranks 2nd in the NFL powering Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (77.4%). Stafford, New England’s Mac Jones and New Orleans’ Jameis Winston are tied for most interceptions.

Now Stafford is preparing to facial area a 49ers workforce that ranks 2nd in the NFL in full defense, initial in go protection, third in scoring protection and fourth in rushing defense.

The 49ers feature defensive conclusion Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and security Jimmie Ward, among other individuals.

“Really very well-rounded defense,” Stafford stated of a unit that has eight sacks and a few interceptions, “super actual physical.”

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) congratulates Cam Akers immediately after his touchdown operate from the Arizona Cardinals.

(Ross D. Franklin / Related Push)

Stafford, 34, was sacked 7 occasions in a year-opening decline to the Buffalo Payments. But with Stafford working behind an offensive line reconfigured due to the fact of accidents, the Atlanta Falcons and Cardinals sacked him only the moment.

Stafford continues to regulate tendinitis in his ideal elbow. He explained it felt “pretty good” as the Rams (2-1) get ready for the 49ers, who fell to 1-2 following an 11-10 decline to the Denver Broncos.

“Continuing to get much better,” he explained.

In final Sunday’s 20-12 victory at Arizona, Stafford completed 18 of 25 passes for 249 yards. The Rams misplaced an virtually particular landing when receiver Allen Robinson permit a short pass sail among his palms.

Unlike Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Stafford is not regarded as a quarterback who usually extends plays just after get in touch with. But towards the Cardinals, he made the play of the activity in the 3rd quarter when he averted a sack by spinning and then throwing a sidearm go to receiver Cooper Kupp. The perform ignited a slumbering offense and led to a touchdown.

“There were a few plays that not quite a few individuals in the world can make,” McVay said of Stafford this 7 days, adding, “What we have recognized, specifically more than the last pair weeks, is that the stats really do not even commence to inform the complete tale.

“It is about profitable the soccer match. In a ton of situations, I thought he led us offensively with a possibility to be able to score 35 factors, but we did not, we scored 20.”

In three games from the 49ers last season, Stafford passed for 6 touchdowns, with 5 interceptions. And the Rams received a break in the NFC championship sport when 49ers security Jaquiski Tartt dropped an practically particular interception that could have enabled the 49ers to near out a victory.

Last November, in a 31-10 Monday night time loss at Levi’s Stadium, Stafford accomplished 26 of 41 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions, which include a decide six by Ward.

In the year finale at SoFi Stadium, Stafford was 21 of 32 for 238 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions, which includes one particular in extra time that sealed a 27-24 defeat.

Three weeks afterwards, in the NFC championship activity at SoFi Stadium, Stafford done 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns, with just one interception.

Just after Tartt dropped a long, fourth-quarter pass supposed for receiver Van Jefferson, the Rams tied the score with a area objective. Stafford then engineered a profitable area-target push for a 20-17 victory that finished a 6-sport getting rid of streak towards the 49ers and despatched the Rams to the Super Bowl.

The game Monday night time will be the fourth between the teams in fewer than a calendar year.

“They know us,” Stafford mentioned, “we know them.”

And many others.

Rookie cornerback Derion Kendrick (concussion) was limited but McVay stated he predicted Kendrick would be offered Monday from the 49ers. Cornerbacks David Extensive (groin) and Cobie Durant (hamstring) and security Jordan Fuller (hamstring) did not practice.