Rams’ Matthew Stafford eager to square off against star-studded QB lineup

With Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season and new contract extension, the Rams will have the edge at quarterback against nearly every opponent they play.

That is saying a lot considering the level of quarterbacks they will face this year. It’s a star-studded group, for sure.

Here is a breakdown and ranking on the quarterbacks the Rams face this year and who holds the edge in the matchup:

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, Week 13

Mahomes is coming off a serious late-season knee injury. While there is optimism he will be ready to start the season, the Chiefs will be cautious with their star quarterback.

 Assuming he’s good to go and ready to play, it shouldn’t take Mahomes long to regain his title as the NFL’s best quarterback, not just among those on the Rams’ schedule. And by Week 13, he should be rolling.

Edge: Push

2. Josh Allen, Bills, Week 5

Allen had a subdued season by his standards last year, and it ended horribly for him when he coughed up a career-high four turnovers in an overtime playoff loss to the Broncos.

But he’s still a premier talent, and no one will benefit more from Buffalo’s decision to fire coach Sean McDermott and replace him with offensive whiz Joe Brady than Allen.

Edge: Rams

3. Justin Herbert, Chargers, Week 8

Did anyone do more with less last season than Herbert, who somehow pulled an offense that was down both of its stellar tackles to the playoffs?

All while getting pummeled by opposing pass rushers who feasted off the Chargers’ injury-ravaged offensive line?

With Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back at tackle, and Mike McDaniel now running the offense, expect Herbert to flourish this season.

Edge: Rams

4. Brock Purdy, 49ers, Weeks 1 and 14

Purdy has his detractors, many of whom just aren’t willing to give it up for the 2022 draft’s Mr. Irrelevant, but when healthy, he’s consistently been a top-tier quarterback.

Does he benefit from playing in Kyle Shanahan’s offense? Clearly. But there’s a long list of quarterbacks who played in the same system under Shanahan who never sniffed the numbers Purdy has produced, nor the wins.

Or maybe you’ve forgotten about Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard.

Yes, the Purdy/Shanahan pairing is a perfect match, but Purdy deserves credit for making it happen on the field.

Edge: Rams

5. Dak Prescott, Cowboys, Week 15

When Prescott is healthy, his only real problem is that he can’t play defense. The Cowboys’ ineptness in that department cost them big-time last year because Prescott played great football again.

He’s coming off yet another efficient season, throwing for 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions for 4,552 yards. His 70.2 QBR was the NFL’s fifth-best mark.

The Cowboys are a sneaky interesting team if they can get their defense squared away.

Edge: Rams

6. Sam Darnold, Seahawks, Weeks 16 and 18

Darnold is a tricky one, coming off a season in which he finished 19th in QBR and threw 14 interceptions.

Then again, he continued his career revival with a second straight solid statistical year and helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship.

And the shoe everyone kept expecting to fall never did. One thing to keep an eye on: His offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, moved to Las Vegas to be the head coach of the Raiders. How he meshes with Brian Fleury, who replaced Kubiak, will be interesting to monitor.

Edge: Rams

7. Jayden Daniels, Commanders, Week 9

Daniels comes with some projection after following up his brilliant rookie season in 2024 with an injury-riddled sophomore season in 2025.

Lasting impressions are important, no doubt, but it’s worth remembering that the 2024 Daniels earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, and ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns. In the process, he carried the Commanders to the NFC Championship game.

The NFL should brace for that version of Daniels.

Edge: Rams

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8. Jordan Love, Packers, Week 12

You could make the argument that Love deserves to be higher on this list, and by Week 12 that very well might be the case.

But the caliber of quarterbacks the Rams play this year, combined with odd world Love lives in which leaves you marveling at his efficiency while simultaneously expecting and wanting better from him, leaves him dwelling in this range.

Edge: Rams

9. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers, Week 17

Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards with 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions last year. He was great over the first half of the season but could not sustain it. A shoulder injury didn’t help matters, but he just wasn’t as sharp down the stretch.

Still, it was a playoff-caliber season. The problem is, the Buccaneers weren’t a postseason-worthy team.

Mayfield is who he is at this point of his career, but when he’s right, he’s going to be a problem anytime he takes the field.

Edge: Rams

10.  Bo Nix, Broncos, Week 3

If judged solely by his play in fourth quarters, Nix would be in the top five on this list. But he’s been pedestrian outside of that point in the game and largely benefits from playing on a star-studded team, specifically defensively.

In his defense, it felt like coach Sean Payton’s heavy hand on the game plan held Nix back through the first three quarters. Payton has handed off play-calling duties to Davis Webb, and the hope in Denver is that unlocks Nix earlier.

Of course, the opposite could also be the case. Which could prove Payton’s point that Nix is a game-managing-type quarterback who needs to be managed and used as such.

Edge: Rams

11. Jalen Hurts, Eagles, Week 4

It’s on the Eagles’ coaching staff to do a better job designing game plans more conducive to Hurts’ strengths as a thrower and runner. They did a horrible job in that regard last year, and it left Hurts and the Eagles’ offense looking out of sorts.

It also caused friction inside the locker room and likely will lead to the departure of wide receiver A.J. Brown in a post-June trade.

The Eagles’ overreliance on controlling risk handcuffed Hurts. But for them to get back to being one of the league’s best teams, they need to let him be him.

Edge: Rams

12. Jaxson Dart, Giants, Week 2

Dart had a solid rookie season last year, throwing for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He didn’t have a whole lot of help, either. By all accounts, he’s headed in the right direction.

But he faces a big season in Year 2 proving to a new coaching staff that he’s truly the future at that position. And it goes beyond his play and talents.

He does the Giants no good watching from the sideline while dealing with an injury that could have been avoided. Unless Dart adjusts his mindset and cuts down on recklessness that borders on irresponsible, he will continue to take unnecessary hits and likely miss time as a result.

Edge: Rams

13. Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza, Raiders, Week 7

Mendoza is clearly the future face of the Raiders’ franchise, but it’s not yet clear when they will hand him the keys. Any delay in ordaining him the starter means Cousins getting the nod.

Mendoza has all the traits to be a high-level NFL quarterback, but until further notice, it’s all projection. As for Cousins, if he gets back to the pre-Achilles tendon injury version of himself, it changes the calculus on this exercise.

But for now, the Raiders’ quarterbacks have a lot to prove.

Edge: Rams

14. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals, Weeks 6 and 10

The Cardinals are just biding their time now, and who knows, by the time Weeks 6 or 10 roll around, maybe it’s rookie Carson Beck under center.

In either case, Arizona has much to desire regarding its quarterback position.

Edge: Rams