There may not be a player in the NFL with higher expectations this season than Matthew Stafford. The former Lions quarterback joined the Rams via trade this offseason and immediately, Los Angeles’ Super Bowl odds spiked.
It’s almost Super Bowl or bust for the Rams this year, which puts a lot of pressure on Stafford and the rest of the team. A lot of analysts and fans believe Stafford will put up huge numbers and lead the Rams to an NFC West crown, but what if he disappoints?
What if he doesn’t live up to the hype with his new team and the trade doesn’t work out for the Rams?
The high price Los Angeles paid for Stafford drives up the expectations, too, giving up two first-round picks, a third-rounder and Jared Goff to make the trade happen. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox picked one player on each team who could disappoint in 2021, and Stafford was the pick for the Rams.
While Stafford has been more consistent than Goff—he has eight seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns—he has just one Pro Bowl and zero playoff wins on his resume. Matthew has an elite level of arm talent and experience but a lack of playoff success.
It’s not like the Rams traded for Tom Brady here.
Again, the isn’t to say that the Rams won’t be better with Stafford under center. They should be. Expecting Stafford to deliver a championship in his inaugural L.A. season, however, could lead to disappointment.
It’s a fair take, to be honest. Stafford had a good career in Detroit, but he only made the playoffs three times and never won a postseason game. He also only made the Pro Bowl once and missed significant time in three seasons with the Lions.
If the Rams miss the playoffs, it’ll be a huge letdown. If they don’t win a postseason game, it’ll also be a major disappointment for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. They don’t have to win it all in his first season, but anything short of a deep playoff run – no matter how Stafford plays – will feel like a failed season.
