Stafford’s sharp night, lingering questions

A productive performance against Buffalo

Stafford’s 74.1% completion rate was a season high, according to NFL.com. It was his first interception-free game of the season, following six interceptions through the first four weeks.

The Rams quarterback had passed for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games entering the matchup. His performance against Buffalo offered a strong counterpoint to concerns about an early-season downturn after winning the previous season’s MVP award.

Short throws shaped the game

NFL.com reported that 37 of Stafford’s 54 attempts traveled no more than nine yards through the air or were behind the line of scrimmage. He connected frequently with Puka Nacua, who had 17 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown.

The tracker noted that Stafford’s passing had leaned heavily toward shorter routes during the season. Through five weeks, he had completed five of 20 attempts traveling at least 20 air yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions on those throws.

Questions for the rest of the season

Stafford completed four of 12 passes for 62 yards while under pressure against Buffalo. NFL.com raised the possibility that the Rams’ short-passing approach reflected circumstances such as receiver injuries and personnel choices, while also asking whether the quarterback’s style might be changing.

The article compared Stafford’s first five games in 2026 with the same span in 2025. This season, he had completed 66.4% of his passes for 1,572 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions; the previous year, he had completed 66.7% for 1,503 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.

NFL.com cautioned against reading the early figures as evidence of a steep decline, noting Stafford’s ability and the strength of the Rams’ offense. Its tracker identified Purdy as the leading MVP candidate, but the supplied report excerpt did not provide the rest of the top-five ranking.