On Sunday, Matthew Stafford set the record with a 6-yard completion to Puka Nacua. That accomplishment gave him admission into the exclusive 60,000 passing yards club. This remarkable achievement occurred during Stafford’s eighth career game against the Houston Texans, solidifying his position as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. He now joins a prestigious group that includes only nine other legendary quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, Dan Marino, and Aaron Rodgers.
Stafford’s career has been defined by striking, deep connections with a lot of different targets. The best of them is Cooper Kupp, with whom he’s formed a dynamic duo that would make Linehan blush. In fact, Kupp’s 4,154 receiving yards with Stafford rank third all-time in NFL history, despite his seasons with the franchise passing just four full seasons. Their productive partnership hasn’t just been a treat to watch, it’s helped turn them into one of the most explosive tandems in the league.
Aside from Kupp, Stafford has proven throughout his career that he can excel in getting the most out of a whole cast of pass catchers. On Thanksgiving Day, he launched a memorable 23-yard touchdown pass to Johnson that proved the winner against the Dallas Cowboys. He’s had notable winning receptions against receivers for other teams as well. Stafford’s knack for processing defenses and delivering an accurate ball with defenders bearing down was an entire facet of his game.
The Milestone Game Against the Texans
Matthew Stafford becomes the fastest to 60,000 passing yards at a key moment in the Los Angeles Rams victory over the Houston Texans. Nacua’s completion was certainly a huge personal milestone for Stafford. More than anything, it further illustrated his dominance over the course of the full season.
After the game, Stafford was thankful for achieving this momentous milestone. He paid tribute to the influence of his teammates and coaches through the years. In many ways, this moment was a personal triumph for him. It highlighted his work ethic and commitment to the game.
“It’s a special feeling to be recognized in this way. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches who have supported me throughout my career.” – Matthew Stafford
The moment was especially touching, as it occurred during a heated divisional rivalry game against the Texans. Stafford’s ability to perform under pressure and contribute to his team’s success was on full display, further emphasizing his status as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
Legendary Connections
Of course, Matthew Stafford’s otherworldly connection with Cooper Kupp has changed the receiving statistic landscape entirely in recent years. In that unprecedented 2021 season where they were all teammates, Kupp not only won the receiving triple crown, he was named Super Bowl LVI MVP. Their chemistry has been the major key to unlocking their respective successes.
Then there’s Kupp, who gets a chance to rave about Stafford’s throwing arm on deep patterns. He’s showing how Stafford’s full range of skill allows him to put the ball in areas that other quarterbacks simply cannot. Deadly accurate Kupp said Stafford’s unique talent and skill at being able to throw an accurate pass while escaping pressure was special.
“He could put the ball anywhere on the field. And that’s the thing about playing that position is that not everybody can make all those throws, and he can make all the throws and he has the smarts to go along with it.” – Johnson
This natural synergy has produced plenty of unforgettable plays during their years together on the field. In one standout moment against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stafford delivered a no-look pass to Kupp in the fourth quarter. These types of plays show that Stafford’s vision of the field and ability to make quick decisions are vital to their effective offensive game plans.
Kupp detailed why timing and anticipation have to be so on-point when playing next to Stafford. Their knack for being on the same page and anticipating one another’s reads has led to some epic big plays.
“And I remember passing [Antoine] Winfield [Jr.] and being like, ‘I just hope that this ball is in the air right now.’ And looking up and sure enough, the ball was up there about a mile high.” – Kupp
Highlight Reel Throws
Throughout his career, Stafford has demonstrated an exceptional ability to make big plays in critical situations. Among those remarkable moments is a beautiful 59-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with the Atlanta Falcons. Another is his spectacular 75-yard touchdown pass to Johnson, when he outran the Cleveland Browns. These three moments were all shines of Stafford’s arm strength and deep passing.
Back in 2014, that play was one of his most iconic throws, during a game against the Atlanta Falcons. Almost immediately, he launched a deep touchdown pass down the sideline, showing off his elite talent for reading a defensive formation.
“Third and extra long against the Falcons in ’14,” Stafford said. “Three man rush kind of stepped up, threw it through a two Tampa. He was down the right sideline for a long touchdown. It was a cool throw.” – Matthew Stafford
Stafford’s versatility as a quarterback can be seen in the different receivers he connected with throughout his career. He’s thrown deep or important passes to nearly every other player on the roster, in addition to Kupp and Johnson. Kris Durham had a high profile 40-yard catch to his credit.
Matthews’ gaudy stats aren’t just a coincidence, they reflect 10 years of off-the-field effort and time spent perfecting his craft. In the end, his remarkable performance all these years is what has secured his legacy already—one of football’s greats.
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