If Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury had issues with the Los Angeles Rams before, it is even more prevalent now with quarterback Matthew Stafford at the helm.
Kingsbury has yet to secure a win against the Rams since taking over in 2019. This could prove to be more difficult than ever with the offense clicking on all cylinders under head coach Sean McVay and their new star quarterback.
As a fellow Texas native, Kingsbury has long been well aware of Stafford’s arm talent. Suffice to say, he is hardly surprised at the success he is enjoying so far in L.A.
Kingsbury hailed Stafford’s ability to throw the football as nothing short of legendary, via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss:
Kliff Kingsbury has watched Matthew Stafford since the QB was in high school, so he has a unique perspective on Stafford’s arm strength: “It's legendary. He is a freak show at that position, and his skillset’s really getting the chance to show in Sean's offense.”
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) September 29, 2021
Kingsbury even went on to suggest that Stafford’s arm talent is of a divine nature:
More from Kingsbury on Stafford: "Some of the throws he's able to make and cut loose, like a mortal man wouldn't even attempt."
— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) September 29, 2021
This is certainly some high praise coming from Kingsbury and it is safe to say that he is not the only one that feels this way. It was well-known that Stafford’s uncanny arm talent was the reason he became the No. 1 pick of the 2009 NFL Draft and he solidified this notion by becoming the fastest quarterback to reach 30,000 career yards since the merger.
The 33-year-old is now finally in a system where his skill set is being put on full display and maximized by a strong supporting cast. His efforts have justified the hype surrounding his arrival with the Rams off to a 3-0 start.
Stafford is completing a career-high 70.2% of his passes for 942 yards with nine touchdowns through three weeks. He currently leads the league in quarterback rating (82.6) and is second to only Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in passer rating (129.8).
His play has put the league on notice after being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in three games. Regardless, Kingsbury still has good reason to be optimistic with his Cardinals also boasting an undefeated 3-0 record going into Week 4.
