The Los Angeles Rams continued to roll with a dominant 34-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 behind another remarkable performance from Matthew Stafford.
The veteran quarterback completed 25 of his 35 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, passing Marc Bulger for third on the Rams’ all-time passing touchdowns list.
Stafford leads the NFL with 30 passing touchdowns against only two interceptions in 11 games this season, and he is currently the odds-on favorite for MVP honors.
Stafford was showered with “MVP” chants from Rams fans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday and he appreciated them.
“Yeah, I did,” Stafford said. “That was cool. That was awesome. It was a great atmosphere out there today. Our fans did a great job showing up.
“Obviously, both sides of the ball gave them something to cheer about early and often, which was really cool. But they were loud. It was a tough environment, I feel like, for Tampa, and we appreciate that, so it was great.”
Stafford is in his 17th NFL season and has never won the MVP Award to this point. However, the 37-year-old’s recent stretch of success could finally put him over the hump. He has thrown for 27 touchdowns with no interceptions over his last nine games, helping him pull ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the MVP race.
The NFL MVP Award now appears to be Stafford’s to lose, and with the Rams firing on all cylinders, it is difficult to see that happening.
Rams make series of roster moves
Prior to their game against the Buccaneers, the Rams signed safety Tanner Ingle from their practice squad to the active roster, and also elevated inside linebacker Elias Neal and wide receiver Brennan Presley from the practice squad to the active roster.
Ingle originally joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has spent parts of the last three seasons with the team despite never appearing in a game. He was a standout in the preseason though and now could get his first opportunity.
Ingle provides depth at safety in the wake of Quentin Lake being placed on injured reserve and could also contribute on special teams.
Neal signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent last year and has appeared in seven games over the past two seasons. This marks the second time Neal has been elevated from the team’s practice squad.
Presley signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent this year and could step in as the team’s kicker returner on Sunday due to Xavier Smith recovering from a concussion. This is Presley’s first elevation from the Rams practice squad.
