Evaluating Whether Matthew Stafford Can Replicate His Week 1 Dominance
Can Matt Stafford continue to light up opposing defenses like he did against Chicago in the weeks to come? Only time will tell.
Matthew Horner - Sep 16, 2021, 11:42pm EDT
- Los Angeles Rams new quarterback Matthew Stafford looked electric in his first game in the new uniform, annihilating his former rival Chicago to the tune of 321 yards and 3 TDs.
- The question will be whether or not Stafford can keep this up against a real defense, which he might get to face in Week 2 at Indianapolis.
- The Rams are -3.5 (-110) favorites on the road against the Colts. They are -186 on the moneyline, while betting Indy will get you +156. These numbers are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of this writing.
Can Stafford Keep Up This Type Of Play?
I don't think there is any reason to expect Stafford to falter throughout the season. When he plays better defenses than the declining Bears, obviously I don't think he'll put up those numbers. But Stafford is an experienced veteran with now a ton of talent around him, and still has the arm strength to boot.
The Rams play an extremely difficult schedule being in the NFC West as they are, and Stafford will have to be at the top of his game every time out. But that's what's so perfect about this new marriage between Stafford and the Rams. He fits in perfectly with head coach Sean McVay's offensive scheme. A true west-coast QB that can sling the ball with the best of them and work off of play-action.
Matthew Stafford NFL MVP?
Stafford entered the season with the fourth-best odds to win the award at 14/1, but his odds have increased to second-best at +800. I would't be shocked in the slightest to see Stafford win the award this year. Being a Bears fan, I thought Stafford could have won MVP several times on some really bad Detroit Lions teams, where he carried the carcass of that franchise for many years.
Stafford finally has the talent around him to continue and build off of his performance from Week 1. He has great receivers, a great offensive line, and a great head coach. Not to mention one of the better defenses in the league as well. Stafford will be one of, if not the, front runner for the award come January.
See BetQL's Projection
Click the button below to instantly see the best bets for the Rams-Colts game in Week 2. BetQL's model has gone 83-52 (61.5%) across all bets in Stafford's starts for a total return of $1,222!
