Matthew Stafford drew MVP buzz as he outdueled Baker Mayfield, leading the Los Angeles Rams to a 34–7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The home win improved the Rams to 9-2 on a six-game winning streak, cementing their hold on first place in the NFC West ahead of the Seattle Seahawks.
Stafford threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns while completing 25-of-35 passes, connecting with Davante Adams for two touchdowns and Colby Parkinson for another.
Fans flooded social media with “MVP” chants after Stafford’s standout performance.
Mayfield on a Hail Mary attempt before halftime as Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is now in danger of losing its spot atop the NFC South, slipping into a tie with the Carolina Panthers during its three-game skid.
Before his exit, he threw for 41 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions on 9-of-19 attempts before Teddy Bridgewater stepped in for the second half.Â
The Rams scored on all four of their first-half possessions and even the defense got on the board with a pick six in the first quarter. L.A. took a 31-7 lead into the break.
The offense stalled after halftime and went scoreless in the third, but it added a field goal in the fourth as the Rams cruised to a comfortable win at SoFi Stadium.
L.A. will hit the road to face the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.