Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz knows Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford well. The two were brought to the Detroit Lions in 2009 to herald in a new age for the organization – Schwartz as the team’s head coach and Stafford as the team’s No. 1 overall draft pick.
Schwartz only lasted five years in Detroit and finished with a 29-51 record (although he did end an 11-year playoff drought for the Lions in 2011). Stafford, meanwhile, played seven more seasons in Detroit before he was traded to and won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021.
The two have seen each other on opposite sidelines three times since Schwartz left Detroit in 2013. Schwartz is 1-2 against Stafford in those matches (once when he was the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and twice when he was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles). Stafford threw for 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a loss to the Bills in 2014 but went 2-0 against the Eagles in 2016 and 2019 with 381 total passing yards and four passing touchdowns.
Now opponents once more, Schwartz understands the type of quarterback his top-ranked defense will face in Week 13.
“Well, he’s one of the best throwers of the football, No. 1 in the league right now,” Schwartz said this week. “But in his era, just an arm that can make all the throws, an arm that can drop different arm angles, has tremendous accuracy, has great command of the offense, really good at threatening the whole field.”
It’s been a bit of an up-and-down year for Stafford in his third season with the Rams. Injuries have stifled Los Angeles’ offense for the second consecutive season – Stafford missed Week 9 with a wrist injury and the team also missed wideout Cooper Kupp and running back Kyren Williams for a few games – but the Rams are still on the bubble for a playoff berth. Stafford himself has thrown for 2,489 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 60.8 completion percentage.
“Matthew’s been doing that for a long time, you know. I’m proud of where he’s going,” Schwartz added. “He’s developed not just as a player but as a leader. And we’re going to play our very best on Sunday to come out with a win.”
Stafford will face a Browns defense that hasn’t allowed a 200-yard passing day since Week 9 and has yet to allow a 300-yard passer in a game. Cleveland has allowed allowed the fewest first downs, the second-fewest yards per play and ranks 10th in sacks with 34.
It’s a tough matchup for any quarterback – and Stafford admitted as much knowing he’ll face Schwartz’s style of defense.
“[Schwartz]’s definitely a really smart guy,” Stafford said. “He thinks about it … from an analytical standpoint but also feels the game as well. As a coordinator, I think he does a nice job of just kind of seeing what’s going on out there and then calling it from his gut. So, like I said, presents a big challenge for us both personnel- and scheme-wise. A lot of respect for their team and how they go about it.”
Cleveland needs this win. After a frustrating loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 12, the Browns have a tenuous hold on the No. 6 seed in the AFC. Four teams sit right behind Cleveland in the standings, though the No. 7 seed is also up for grabs.
Whatever happens in Week 13 will be crucial for the rest of the Browns’ season.
