Matthew Stafford has never seen a lead he thinks is too big to overcome – even when trailing in the fourth quarter. While he may make some costly mistakes during a game, he often turns it up a notch in the final 15 minutes when his team needs him most.
He did that on Sunday when the Rams took down the Seattle Seahawks, once again in come-from-behind fashion. After falling behind 13-0 in the first half and eventually 16-7 in the fourth quarter, Stafford led his team all the way back and sealed the victory with yet another game-winning drive.
It was the 44th game-winning drive of Stafford’s career and his 35th fourth-quarter comeback, both of which are the most of any active quarterback. Russell Wilson is second among active players, leading 39 game-winning drives and 31 fourth-quarter comebacks.
For Stafford, the company he keeps at the top of the list is special. He’s sixth all-time in fourth-quarter comebacks, fewer than only Tom Brady (46), Peyton Manning (43), Ben Roethlisberger (41), Matt Ryan (38) and Drew Brees (36). Stafford is just one behind Ryan for fifth all-time and only six away from cracking the top three.
His comeback against the Seahawks was particularly impressive because of the massive shot he took on the Rams’ failed flea flicker, and the thumb injury he was already dealing with.
“I think what happened was I think the urgency went up,” McVay said of Stafford’s play after that shot to his midsection. “And I think this is one of the things that makes him great is these types of moments. You can add it to his legacy and his storied career of these come from behind wins. When it looks like the chips are stacked against you and he just finds a way to be able to get the drives. I thought really on the scoring drive, the big conversion on the play action to start that drive where you get a big 20-plus-yard play to Demarcus Robinson. I thought that was big. He makes an unbelievable throw to Puka Nacua. He made a lot of his great plays in that scoring in those two drives that we ended up having to have to be able to go up one and it was awesome to be able to see.”
Stafford may not have a Hall of Fame resume yet, but when it comes to clutch quarterback play, there are few better than him in football. The numbers are there to back it up, too. He has a legitimate chance to finish his career with the most fourth-quarter comebacks in league history. Obviously, part of that comes with playing on bad teams that trail often, but that shouldn’t take away from the way he so often leads his team from behind.
