Matthew Stafford entered the 2025 season outside the top 20 in HeyTC’s Daily QB Rankings. Fast-forward to Week 12, and the Rams veteran sits firmly at #3. Only Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts rank higher – two guys with Super Bowl hardware already.
Stafford trails them with a 49.98 rating, earning “Sigma” status for his great season and elite fantasy impact. At 37, he’s shredding defenses like it’s 2021 all over again.
The Rams boast strong playoff positioning, and Stafford’s arm looks sharper than ever. Can this man join the ultra-el/popular club of quarterbacks winning it all at 37 or older?
HeyTC Rankings Confirm: Stafford Belongs in the Elite Tier Right Now
HeyTC’s latest Daily QB Rankings don’t lie. Here’s the current top 5:
| Rank | Quarterback | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | 80.22 |
| 2 | Jalen Hurts | 53.50 |
| 3 | Matthew Stafford | 49.98 |
| 4 | Josh Allen | 45.74 |
| 5 | Joe Burrow (INJ) | 41.53 |
Stafford edges out Allen and others with clean pocket work and red-zone mastery. His playoff projection sits at “Good” – solid for a guy who already hoisted the Lombardi once. Critics pointed to his age coming in, but the numbers shut that down fast.
Stafford’s 2025 Dominance Shuts Down the “Too Old” Narrative
Here’s the deal: Stafford turns 38 the day before Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. Born February 7, 1988, he’ll play the biggest game as a fresh 38-year-old if the Rams get there. Through Week 11, he’s torched secondaries with 2,557 passing yards and a league-leading 27 touchdowns against minimal picks. His yards per attempt hover near elite levels, and he’s gone stretches with zero interceptions while piling up scores.
Remember his 2021 run? Same vibe – precise arm, quick releases, and that cannon from any platform. Pair him with weapons like Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, and defenses can’t keep up. Age slowing him? Hardly. His pocket presence looks vintage, evading rushers like he’s still in Detroit’s chaos.
History Says Yes – Late-Career Super Bowls Happen for Legends
Tom Brady did it multiple times, winning at 41, 43, and beyond. Peyton Manning grabbed one at 39. John Elway went back-to-back at 37 and 38. Johnny Unitas never quite got there late, but the point stands: great arms age like fine wine when the team clicks.
Stafford already has his 2021 ring at age 33. Another at 38 would cement him alongside Elway as dual-ring winners deep into their careers. Counterpoint? Injuries and wear catch everyone eventually. Yet, Stafford’s clean bill this year and McVay’s scheme protect him better than most.
The Rams Have Real Super Bowl Equity, But the Path Isn’t Easy
HeyTC pegs the Rams’ Super Bowl chances just over 5%, while Polymarket as the market at 13% implied probability lately. They’re in the contender mix with a stout defense grabbing picks and a run game that sets up play-action bombs.
Challenges loom. The NFC runs through Philly, and despite a slow start, Kansas City waits as the AFC monster. But Stafford thriving under pressure changes everything. His red-zone efficiency turns close games into wins.
What Separates Stafford From Another Title Run
Skeptics say the league’s faster now, younger QBs scramble more. Maybe, yet do those quarterbacks win? Mahomes and Jalen Hurts don’t scramble that much. The good news is that Stafford’s anticipation beats speed. He’s not running read-options – he’s picking apart zones from a clean pocket. That’s timeless.
Here’s the bottom line: Matthew Stafford has every tool to join Brady, Manning, and Elway in that rare air. The HeyTC #3 ranking proves he’s not just hanging on – he’s ascending. If the Rams ride this wave, don’t bet against No. 9 adding ring number two at 38.
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