Matthew Stafford and Jim Schwartz go way back – all the way back to the beginning of the quarterback’s career, in fact. Schwartz was the Lions’ head coach when Detroit drafted Stafford first overall in 2009, coaching the former Bulldogs quarterback for five years.
On Sunday afternoon, Stafford and Schwartz will meet again, their fourth matchup since their Lions tenure together. Schwartz knows all about Stafford’s arm talent and ability as a passer, and ahead of this week’s showdown at SoFi Stadium, he paid the Rams quarterback a big compliment.
He called Stafford one of the best throwers of this era, which is by no means a stretch.
#Browns DC Jim Schwartz on Rams QB Matt Stafford, whom he coached in Detroit: He's one of the best throwers in the league in his era.
I'm proud of where he's gone. He's developed as a player and a leader. We're going to have to play our very best to come out with a win.— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) November 30, 2023
In the previous three meetings between Stafford and Schwartz, Stafford’s teams went 2-1. He threw five touchdown passes and only one interception, doing a nice job of overcoming Schwartz’s great scheme.
The Browns boast the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL so this weekend’s game will once again be a big challenge.