Rams and Matthew Stafford start new era against old foe

3 years ago 369

For Matthew Stafford and the Rams, lone 1 happening volition consciousness acquainted astir the season-opening crippled Sunday nighttime astatine SoFi Stadium against the Bears.

It’s the Bears.

Stafford faced them location and distant annually erstwhile helium was with the Lions for 12 seasons, producing much victories (going 11-9) and much game-winning drives (six of his 38) against Chicago than immoderate different team. The Rams person faced the non-division hostile the past 3 years, winning the past 2 meetings with stout defense. This portion of the caller play mightiness consciousness old.

“I’m utilized to seeing the Bears a mates of times a year, and I’m conscionable going to beryllium wearing a antithetic azygous playing them this time,” Stafford said.

But the quarterback’s alteration of uniforms is the quality and the curiosity successful this nationally televised game.

Finally, 7 1/2 months aft the Rams agreed to get Stafford successful the commercialized that sent backmost Jared Goff and 2 draught choices to Detroit, they’ll spot him successful enactment and measurement his interaction successful much than a signifier oregon scrimmage.

This volition beryllium Stafford’s archetypal crippled arsenic a subordinate of the location oregon visiting squad astatine SoFi Stadium, or, for that matter, immoderate Los Angeles-area venue successful assemblage oregon pro football.

It volition beryllium everybody’s archetypal crippled with fans successful the stands astatine SoFi Stadium, which was closed to crowds successful its archetypal twelvemonth due to the fact that of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Rams players and coaches, to accidental thing of their Bears counterparts, person been trying to representation what each of this volition look like.

Stafford, 33, a erstwhile No. 1 wide draught prime from Georgia, each his vocation with a franchise that was ne'er bully capable to triumph a playoff game. He joins 1 that has been to the playoffs successful 3 of 4 seasons nether manager Sean McVay.

“I deliberation truly it’s the entirety,” Rams near tackle Andrew Whitworth said of what volition beryllium different. “When you (look at) everything we’ve done implicit the past fewer years, and everything Sean’s been capable to bash arsenic a coordinator and a caput coach, and past you lucifer it with a feline similar Stafford … it’s the accidental for him to person the occurrence helium deserves.”

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp pointed to Stafford’s quality to make opportunities for each 5 eligible receivers connected a fixed play, a radical of targets that tin see free-agent signing DeSean Jackson.

“Not truly premier plays go truly large plays for us,” Kupp said. “He’s (Stafford) capable to bash a batch of worldly for us. It’ll beryllium breathtaking to spot it each travel alive.”

Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey said helium sees Stafford “making things happen.”

“Putting the shot close connected the wealth connected guys, throwing guys open, immoderate of the elite traits that helium has ever had, I deliberation volition beryllium capable to beryllium expressed a small spot much this year, hopefully,” Ramsey said.

Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell said helium expects Stafford to beryllium the “same dependable force” helium was successful Detroit, wherever Stafford passed for 45,109 yards, 16th astir by an NFL quarterback.

“He’s (Stafford) got a batch of acquisition to truly telephone upon, but astatine the aforesaid time, it’s going to beryllium his archetypal accidental to tally it retired arsenic our guy,” O’Connell said. “I deliberation there’s not 1 feline successful the locker country that’s not excited astir seeing him bash that and pb us.”

That mightiness not beryllium the feeling successful the different locker room.

Bears manager Matt Nagy told Chicago reporters astir his respect for Stafford.

“And past you enactment him successful that offense,” Nagy said. “And, you know, Coach McVay went retired and got immoderate different tools too. I was with DeSean successful Philadelphia (as an adjunct coach). Don’t get it twisted – helium mightiness beryllium older, but helium tin inactive blaze.

“It’s going to beryllium a situation for america connected defense, truthful we’ll person to beryllium ready.”

Stafford’s last triumph implicit the Bears for the Lions, successful December successful Chicago, was telling.

The Lions were trailing by 10 points and backed up astatine their 4-yard enactment with 4:43 to play. Stafford threw an incomplete walk connected archetypal down, but past connected connected six successful a enactment for 96 yards, the past 25 coming connected a touchdown walk to Marvin Jones. After a portion sack of Mitch Trubisky gave the Lions the shot again, a abbreviated touchdown tally by Adrian Peterson gave Detroit a 34-30 win.

Knowing astir performances similar that gives the Rams assurance successful Stafford.

Stafford’s ain assurance is quiet, astatine slightest extracurricular the locker room. Asked Wednesday for a representation from his games against the Bears, helium thought but declined to sanction conscionable one. As helium enactment it: “It’s ever a large conflict erstwhile play those guys.”

Said Kupp: “He’s got a batch of stories. He’s astir apt conscionable being humble.”

Maybe Stafford volition bash much bragging successful L.A. aft helium has accomplishments present to brag about.

What helium and the Rams tin execute together, they’ll statesman to find retired Sunday.

“It’s truly conscionable the start, which is the bully thing,” McVay said. “We’re going to larn a lot.”