Matthew Stafford Gets Favorite Stage to Shake Off Rough Opener
If Matthew Stafford felt satisfied with his 18-year career, nobody could blame him.
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During his time with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, the quarterback has earned more than $400 million, an MVP, a Super Bowl ring and a future spot in the Hall of Fame. Even at 38, Stafford remains elite, one of the NFL’s most accurate and strong-armed quarterbacks, leading an offense explosive at its best.
Monday Night Football means something
Yet what still excites him is prime-time football, when his game is the only one that night. That opportunity arrives Monday, when the Rams host the New York Giants at SoFi Stadium.
“I love playing on Monday nights,” Stafford said. “Monday Night Football has always meant something in this league. We all grew up watching it and it’s fun to be a part of it.”
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One bad game, or a bigger problem?
The setting is the perfect opportunity for Stafford to flip the script on his season after his worst performance since joining the Rams in 2021. He and the passing attack looked out of rhythm, scoring just seven points, the fewest of the Stafford and head coach Sean McVay era. The Rams, who ranked No. 1 last season in total yards, passing yards and points per game, were the only offense in Week 1 that failed to reach double-digits.
Some see the Week 1 performance as a sign that Stafford, who turns 39 in February, could decline this season after arguably the best year of his career. He can put up a big game against a talented Giants defense, which kept the Dallas Cowboys’ high-powered offense in check in the opener, and show the world it was only one bad game.
The poor showing could be explained by jet lag after a 16-hour flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Still, Stafford has another chance to play on the stage he loves most and change the narrative on his season.
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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 12:03 AM.
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