Matthew Stafford’s Jedi Mind Tricks keep the Rams humming

This summer, the jokes wrote themselves.

But as the calendar flipped to October, Matthew Stafford changed the punchlines.

Reports out of Los Angeles Rams’ training camp in August sounded the alarm about Stafford’s back, as the veteran quarterback was held out of training camp as he dealt with a lingering disc injury that even required an epidural. Stafford went as far as to receive treatment from an “Ammortal Chamber,” a trailer that was parked at the facility.

Ammortal advertises the chamber as a “wellness device that aims to optimize human performance and promote holistic health through a combination of non-invasive technologies.”

You can see why the jokes were made.

But Stafford was ready for the start of the season, and as the Rams look ahead to Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles sits at 3-1, tied with the 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks atop the NFC West.

Through those four games, Stafford has completed 67.6% of his passes for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns, against just a pair of interceptions.

“I don’t think anyone will be surprised when he’s putting a gold jacket on,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay this week of his quarterback.

Stafford’s 88-yard touchdown to Tutu Atwell in the closing minutes secured a win for the Rams last week over the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts. This completion earned the bulk of the headlines, but some throws from Stafford earlier in the game illustrated just how dialed in the veteran quarterback has been this season.

Take this completion from the first quarter against the Colts:

On this 3rd-and-2 situation, the Rams have a vertical concept dialed up to the left with a corner route and a dig route, while an isolated Nacua runs a hitch to the right side of the formation. Seeing the man coverage over Nacua, Stafford immediately looks to the right after catching the shotgun snap.

The timing on this throw is unbelievable. After Stafford lets this ball fly, Nacua still takes three more steps along his vertical stem before throttling down. While the coverage is as good as it can be on this route, Stafford’s anticipation creates the separation, giving Nacua a chance to pick up a few more yards after the catch.

Stafford’s first touchdown of the game came just before halftime. As you watch this clip, keep an eye on Colts safety Nick Cross, who thought he had one of the easiest interceptions of his life.

Before he didn’t:

Stafford opens to the right on this play, before coming backside to Davante Adams on the receiver’s post route. Cross, playing inside in Cover 4, reads Stafford’s eyes and jumps the route, believing he will get right into the throwing lane.

But Stafford sees Cross jumping the route, and throws it behind him, leading Adams to safety, and a touchdown.

The end zone angle of that play is certainly worth a look. Notice how Stafford sells Cross with his eyes, leading the safety away from where he’s throwing the ball.

This is one of those throws that is part frozen rope, part Jedi Mind Trick.

A dig route that Stafford completes to Nacua in the second half is another “vintage Stafford” moment. With the Colts spinning to an inverted Tampa 2 coverage, Stafford anticipates the throwing lane to perfection, and then puts this throw in an ideal spot for Nacua to secure the catch while avoiding a big hit from the defender between the safeties:

For good measure, look at the state of play when Stafford lets this throw rip:

Another Jedi Mind Trick moment.

The game-winner came with just ten defenders on the field, a breakdown on the Colts’ sideline that opened the door for the 88-yard touchdown to Atwell.

It also opened the door to this moment:

Stafford and the Rams have a chance to move to 4-1 tonight against the injury-plagued 49ers.

Expect some more Jedi Mind Tricks.