Bye Week Question: Goff or Stafford?
PostPosted:7 months 3 weeks ago
Nothing can trump, best or replace a Lombardi but the question has to be asked "Goff or Stafford?".
The Lombardi. Goff has none. Stafford has one. On one hand fans might argue "Stafford and it's not even close". However, did Stafford win the Superbowl for the Rams or did Aaron Donald and Von Miller? Stafford got us to the postseason but so did Goff. The Rams won the Super Bowl with Stafford and scored just 3 points in Goff's Super Bowl. Stafford is lauded for his "toughness" playing injured and gutting it out. But Goff has either had extremely good luck in that area, or he is just as tough as #9. Goff has missed just 4 games to injury since 2017, while Stafford has missed 17 over the same span.
In 2018, Goff had his best year with the Rams. 32 TDs, 12 Int, 4688 yards and a 13-3 record. Besides the thrilling regular season games vs the Vikings and Chiefs, where #16's talents were on full display, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round on a night when Goff went 15 of 28 for 186 yards. Clearly it was the run game and defense that won that one. However, against the Saints it was a different story. Trailing 20-10 after the Saints first possession of the second half went 70 yards and ended with a TD, Goff went 13 of 18 for 183 yards as the Rams outscored the Saints 16-3 over the remainder of the game. I will remember the great play Goff made in OT avoiding a sack to hit Higbee for 6 yards. I will also remember the facemask in the first half, that wasn't called on 3rd down in the redzone that would have given the Rams a first and goal instead of a FG.
In 2021, Stafford had a great season. 41 TDs, 4886 yards, 12-5. In the postseason, we beat Arizona and to my memory Stafford played well but the defense played phenomenal. Then we beat Tampa Bay in another game where Stafford played well but the defense played great. 27 points allowed is great? They allowed 3 points in the first half, 133 yards, sacked and picked off Brady once. But those 24 second half points...what about them? They allowed a 10 play 62 yard drive that ended with a FG and a 3 play, 77 yard TD drive when Ramsey got beat for 55 yards by Evans. The other two scoring drives (both TDs) covered 30 yards each. They recovered a fumble on another drive and stopped the Bucs on downs twice. But what will forever be remembered is "the love of the game route" by Kupp and the throw by Stafford. Many will say, "Goff doesn't make that throw" and I'd think, "probably not". The CCG vs SF where the defense allowed 17 points for the game and 126 yards of offense, 7 points in the second half. Stafford played well passing for 331 yards, 2 TDs with a pick. For me, the play I remember is Donald grabbing Garappolo and spinning him around, causing the clinching pick. In the SB Stafford threw a ton of dimes but also 2 picks. Again the defense allowed just 20 points, 7 on a missed facemask penalty by Higgins, 12 seconds into the 2nd half but just 3 for the remaining 29:48. I will always remember 2 things about that game. The GW drive Stafford executed and the play to end it by Aaron Donald.
Right now, I'd give the edge to Stafford because he brought us the Lombardi. He passed the eyetest in 2021 but since has had some stinkers. He is 35 while Goff is just 29 and may have his best football in front of him. I guess we'll really have to see how it plays out. But I was curious if there would be different interesting takes on the question.
The Lombardi. Goff has none. Stafford has one. On one hand fans might argue "Stafford and it's not even close". However, did Stafford win the Superbowl for the Rams or did Aaron Donald and Von Miller? Stafford got us to the postseason but so did Goff. The Rams won the Super Bowl with Stafford and scored just 3 points in Goff's Super Bowl. Stafford is lauded for his "toughness" playing injured and gutting it out. But Goff has either had extremely good luck in that area, or he is just as tough as #9. Goff has missed just 4 games to injury since 2017, while Stafford has missed 17 over the same span.
In 2018, Goff had his best year with the Rams. 32 TDs, 12 Int, 4688 yards and a 13-3 record. Besides the thrilling regular season games vs the Vikings and Chiefs, where #16's talents were on full display, the Rams beat the Cowboys in the divisional round on a night when Goff went 15 of 28 for 186 yards. Clearly it was the run game and defense that won that one. However, against the Saints it was a different story. Trailing 20-10 after the Saints first possession of the second half went 70 yards and ended with a TD, Goff went 13 of 18 for 183 yards as the Rams outscored the Saints 16-3 over the remainder of the game. I will remember the great play Goff made in OT avoiding a sack to hit Higbee for 6 yards. I will also remember the facemask in the first half, that wasn't called on 3rd down in the redzone that would have given the Rams a first and goal instead of a FG.
In 2021, Stafford had a great season. 41 TDs, 4886 yards, 12-5. In the postseason, we beat Arizona and to my memory Stafford played well but the defense played phenomenal. Then we beat Tampa Bay in another game where Stafford played well but the defense played great. 27 points allowed is great? They allowed 3 points in the first half, 133 yards, sacked and picked off Brady once. But those 24 second half points...what about them? They allowed a 10 play 62 yard drive that ended with a FG and a 3 play, 77 yard TD drive when Ramsey got beat for 55 yards by Evans. The other two scoring drives (both TDs) covered 30 yards each. They recovered a fumble on another drive and stopped the Bucs on downs twice. But what will forever be remembered is "the love of the game route" by Kupp and the throw by Stafford. Many will say, "Goff doesn't make that throw" and I'd think, "probably not". The CCG vs SF where the defense allowed 17 points for the game and 126 yards of offense, 7 points in the second half. Stafford played well passing for 331 yards, 2 TDs with a pick. For me, the play I remember is Donald grabbing Garappolo and spinning him around, causing the clinching pick. In the SB Stafford threw a ton of dimes but also 2 picks. Again the defense allowed just 20 points, 7 on a missed facemask penalty by Higgins, 12 seconds into the 2nd half but just 3 for the remaining 29:48. I will always remember 2 things about that game. The GW drive Stafford executed and the play to end it by Aaron Donald.
Right now, I'd give the edge to Stafford because he brought us the Lombardi. He passed the eyetest in 2021 but since has had some stinkers. He is 35 while Goff is just 29 and may have his best football in front of him. I guess we'll really have to see how it plays out. But I was curious if there would be different interesting takes on the question.