Matthew Stafford stands three games from clinching his first NFL MVP, the final piece needed for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback leads the league in key passing stats as his team eyes the NFC's top seed. A win Thursday in Seattle against the Seahawks could propel him toward this milestone.
Matthew Stafford's pursuit of NFL MVP honors positions him just three games from solidifying his Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials. Currently the betting favorite at -300 odds, Stafford seeks to cap his resume, which already includes a 2021 Super Bowl win with the Rams. His next challenges come Thursday on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, followed by matchups with the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.
Stafford tops the NFL in advanced metrics, including EPA per play at 0.24 and success rate at 54.0%. He leads with 37 touchdown passes, a 7.4 TD-INT ratio, 112.2 passer rating, 7.9% touchdown rate, and 1.1% interception rate, alongside 3,722 passing yards. These figures bolster his case, especially if the Rams secure the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Historical precedent favors Stafford: Eight quarterbacks with 40 touchdown passes on a conference-topping team all won MVP that year, including Patrick Mahomes in 2022 and 2018, Aaron Rodgers in 2020 and 2011, and Peyton Manning in 2013. Stafford needs three more touchdowns to reach 40.
An MVP alongside his Super Bowl would make Stafford the 15th quarterback with both accolades. Ten of the prior 14 are Hall of Famers, with Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes as future locks; only Joe Theismann falls short, limited by injury and stats. Stafford ranks in the NFL's top 10 for career passing yards and touchdowns.
At 37, potential achievements include becoming the oldest for a first MVP, the first such winner and Super Bowl champion at age 34 or older, and the fourth to earn both after a team switch, joining Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Steve Young. His Rams tenure has elevated his legacy beyond Detroit days, proving his elite talent with better support.
