3 top-tier QBs Taylor Heinicke is currently outperforming

1. Matthew Stafford

Anyone know what’s wrong with Matthew Stafford? A report broke before the Rams’ loss to the Packers saying the veteran quarterback is dealing with a sore ankle, pain in his throwing arm/elbow and “chronic” back pain.

When you put it like that, it’s fair to say that litany of injuries are contributing to his struggles. At the same time, though, Stafford’s healthy enough to start and his performance has resembled that of Jared Goff, whom the Rams couldn’t ship out of town soon enough, in recent weeks.

Over the last three games (all losses), Stafford is completing just 614.% of his passes for 279.7 yards per game and five touchdowns to five interceptions. He’s thrown a pick six in three straight games, which seems impossible.

And don’t get seduced by his five TDs, either. One came with 24 seconds left in Week 9 that brought the Rams within 12 points of the Titans. The other came in the fourth quarter this past Sunday with Green Bay up 36-17.

You obviously can’t take those two touchdowns away from Stafford. Just don’t get tricked into thinking they were meaningful scores.

The bottom line is that Stafford is in one right now, and that’s a real shame given all the luxuries he’s working with in the Rams’ offense. The last time we checked, Heinicke doesn’t need lemons to make lemonade.