Will Rams QB Matthew Stafford return to MVP form?

Stafford looked every bit like a quarterback dragging his team down, completing just 20 of 36 passes for 177 yards and two interceptions against Philadelphia last Sunday. He suddenly caught fire, going 12-for-15 for 140 yards over the final two drives. That has become the Stafford experience in 2026: late-game surges that keep the Rams afloat.

A 2-2 start raises questions, not panic

The reality is Stafford doesn't need to be an MVP to keep the Rams in contention. At 38 years old, that still looks a lot like a Pro Bowl quarterback. The burden becomes lighter when your offense features playmakers such as Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams, while Sean McVay, arguably football's premier offensive architect, is calling plays.

The concerning part is not necessarily the interceptions themselves; it's that Stafford's decision-making has looked uncharacteristically shaky compared to the efficient versions over the previous two seasons with LA. He also had 49 pass attempts just once last season, and he's already done that twice in 2026, Weeks 3-4 against Denver and Philadelphia (55 and 51 attempts).

The Rams are still well below preseason expectations as they sit 2-2 through four games. Dating back to 2011, the Super Bowl favorite has only started 2-2 four times, including the Rams. Kansas City in 2021, New England in 2017 and Seattle in 2016.

The good news for the Rams is that four games represent only a fraction of the season, and no more trips to Australia. Six interceptions create headlines, but quarterbacks aren't judged solely on September numbers. They're judged on where they finish in January.

There is an undeniable Last Dance feel surrounding Stafford's tenure in Los Angeles. Retirement speculation has lingered recently; add in the growing reports that Amazon Prime's agreement with Kirk Herbstreit contains an escape hatch if McVay ever becomes available. Whether there's substance to those whispers or not, they create uncertainty around a franchise trying to contend for a championship. Lingering doubts hovering about the long-term future of a Super Bowl-winning head coach are much harder to dodge.