Matt Stafford might become one of the quarterbacks to throw three touchdowns in four consecutive games, and the Rams present the ideal foe.
The Los Angeles Rams’ next opponent, the Washington Commanders, are allowing less than 0.5 interceptions and 2.3 touchdowns per game on average from their quarterbacks, even with Desmond Ridder throwing half of those interceptions in a single game. With three games remaining, Matthew Stafford has thrown 11 touchdowns; he has a great chance to continue his run.
What are the expectations for Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp when facing a defense that is last in the NFL in the majority of defensive categories?
A lot. They can be expected to do a lot.
Although it is uncertain if the Rams will meet or exceed those expectations, Los Angeles is being given the chance to play the Commanders at a time when head coach Ron Rivera is probably a few weeks away from losing his job and is practically pleading with his players to show up and play their hardest out of a sense of professionalism. However, Washington’s pass defense has been among the worst over the past 20 years, regardless of how much the players and coaches have cared or not.
Individual QB games
Only four of the 13 quarterbacks to face the Commanders have failed to throw more touchdowns than interceptions: Josh Dobbs, who started his career against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, had zero touchdowns and zero interceptions; Josh Allen, who faced the Bills in Week 3, had one touchdown and one interception (but won 37-3 by rushing for a score); Mac Jones, who faced the Commanders in Week 9, had one touchdown and one interception; and Desmond Ridder of Atlanta, who threw three interceptions against two interceptions in Week 6.
Half of all interceptions made against the Commanders in 2023 came from Ridder’s three interceptions.
Eight quarterbacks have thrown multiple touchdowns with no interceptions against Washington’s defense: Tommy DeVito had three, Geno Smith, Tyrod Taylor, and Tua Tagovailoa had two, Dak Prescott and Justin Fields had four, and Jalen Hurts had done so twice for a total of six touchdowns to zero interceptions.
Russell Wilson is the other quarterback facing the Commanders; during one of his best games against the Broncos, he recorded three touchdowns to one interception.
Washington will become just the sixth team in history to surrender over 30 touchdowns while only intercepting six passes, provided they don’t pick off any more passes this season. The 2020 Houston Texans were the most recent, allowing 30:3. Of the six teams currently on that list, Washington has the worst point differential at the moment, at -134.
Five years ago, the San Francisco 49ers surprisingly allowed 35 TD:2 INT in 2018 and went 4-12.
Team Defense
This season, the Commanders are tied with the Bears and Eagles for the most NFL games in which a quarterback has passed for at least three touchdowns. The Lions are the only other team with at least four of these games. In those games, the Commanders have a 1-4 record.
In those games, the Eagles are 4-1.
Five teams have yet to give up three passing touchdowns in a game.
The Commanders hold the NFL record with 10 games where they have given up two touchdown passes. In those games, they are 2-8, while Philadelphia is 7-2 in similar circumstances. In terms of points, yards, passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per pass, interceptions, passer rating, and yards per drive allowed, Washington is ranked thirty-second. As you might expect, they rank 32nd in DVOA when it comes to defense.
Change doesn’t matter
After the team lost 45-10 on Thanksgiving, Rivera “fired” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, but in reality, he merely gave Del Rio advance notice of what was coming. Del Rio will shortly be hired once more. Given that he hasn’t held a defensive coordinator position in 14 years, Rivera might not be able to find another position instructing football. Thus far.
In Week 13, Rivera assumed command of the defensive play calling in Washington’s 45–15 loss to the Dolphins. They have just finished a bye.
A week into the season, the Commanders’ 19 touchdowns on vertical routes are eight more than any other defense’s total, which is indicative of better things to come for the Rams.
Cooper, Puka, and Tutu time
D.J. Moore’s 230 receiving yards in Week 5 of this season’s game against the Commanders hold the record. He scored three touchdowns as well. Tyreek Hill had 157, Drake London had 125, Marvin Mims had 113, Stefon Diggs had 111, DeVonta Smith had 111 and 78, DK Metcalf had 98, Darren Waller had 98, and Tyler Lockett had 92. A.J. Brown had 175 and 130 in his two games.
If you count A.J. Brown twice, six different players have caught multiple touchdowns against the Commanders.
Puka Nacua, an NFL rookie who is making history, will undoubtedly get at least seven targets against the worst pass defense in the league, which is fantastic news. Nacua currently has 1,113 yards; will 1,300 be reached this weekend? Yes, it is.
Puka is tied for the sixth-most rookie touchdowns ever with five 100-yard games. He will tie Billy Howton, who had six with the Packers in 1952, with one more. Two more and OBJ, Justin Jefferson, and Harlon Hill will be tied for second place.
Puka ranks 13th in history for receiving yards during his rookie season; an additional 100 yards would vault him to the eighth spot, surpassing players such as Hill, Bill Brooks, Terry Glenn, Michael Thomas, and Michael Clayton. And 200 more yards will tie him with Randy Moss for fifth most, passing Howton and OBJ.
In the Ravens’ overtime loss last week, Cooper Kupp broke out of a six-game slump by catching eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Is this going to be his fourth 100-yard game of the year?
With just one catch in the previous two games, Tutu Atwell has been much less productive lately. This is his chance to make a fresh start.
Matthew Stafford time
Stafford had eight touchdowns and eight interceptions three weeks prior. After three games, his scores are 19 and 9. In the last three games, Stafford has 11 touchdowns to just 1 interception, supporting the notion that he is back to his Pro Bowl form.
With at least three touchdown passes in a game this could be Stafford’s fourth straight; he didn’t even accomplish this as the 2021 Super Bowl champion with 41 touchdown passes. In fact, Stafford has never had four straight games with at least three touchdowns in his lengthy career despite throwing for many touchdowns.
He would be the first quarterback to do so since the 2021 4-game streaks of Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. In his attempt, he will be up against the worst pass defense in the NFL.
He would become the only quarterback for the Rams to accomplish the feat in 1999, along with Kurt Warner.
Before he rides off into the sunset, does Ron Rivera have any more gifts?
He would be the first quarterback to do so since the 2021 4-game streaks of Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. In his attempt, he will be up against the worst pass defense in the NFL.
He’d join Kurt Warner in 1999 as the only Rams QBs to do it.
Before he rides off into the sunset, does Ron Rivera have any more gifts?