LA Rams make two statements in dominant win over BuccaneersTyler Dragon, USA TODAYMon, November 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM UTC·4 min readINGLEWOOD, CA — A national primetime game was the perfect setting for the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) to make two statements.
The Rams are playing like the best team in the NFL. While quarterback Matthew Stafford is making the case to be league MVP. The Rams showcased both during a 34-7 demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStafford completed his first 12 passes as the Rams built a comfortable 21-0 lead in the first half. The Rams had an insurmountable 31-7 lead at halftime.
Stafford tossed three touchdowns in the first half, including two to wide receiver Davante Adams. The quarterback passed for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
Stafford joined Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers as the only players in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and five-or-fewer interceptions in their team’s first 11 games of a season. He’s thrown 27 straight touchdowns without an interception, tying Brady (2010-2011 seasons) for the most consecutive passing touchdowns without an interception all-time.
“Hall of Famer, MVP of the NFL this season,” Rams running back Kyren Williams told USA TODAY Sports of Stafford. “The best quarterback in the world. There’s not really any other way to describe him, besides the best.”
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
2 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.3 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.4 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.Stafford’s leading one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses. He tops the NFL with 30 touchdown passes and only has two interceptions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I think it feels like the game is slowing down," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "I feel like he's in total command. I think he's got a lot of trust in the teammates that he's playing with. There's a true ownership. I think he's just totally and completely present, and he's really just enjoying the opportunity to compete week in and week out.”
Stafford has registered a 117 passer rating or better in four of the past five contests.
“He's a fine wine. He's getting better with age,” McVay added. “He's playing really well. He's in total command.”
Stafford’s performance this year has made an offseason filled with uncertainty seem like a distance memory.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRemember when the Rams granted Stafford’s agent permission to speak to other teams about a trade? Or the aggravated disk in his back that caused him to miss most of training camp?
Stafford does.
It’s made him appreciate the game even more.
“It's a whole lot of fun. My situation during training camp, with the injury that I was going through, and not being able to really do much of anything for about 4 to 6 weeks, whatever it was. Sometimes being without something, lets you know how much you really love doing it. And I love playing this game. I appreciate it,” Stafford said. “When you're without something like that, and then you get the chance to go back and do it. It sure is a whole lot of fun. And obviously it's a lot of fun winning ball games.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMost importantly, though, the Rams have now won six straight games, the longest active winning streak in the NFC.
The winning streak should put the rest of the league on notice.
The Rams defense is rounding into form. The unit forced four turnovers versus the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11 and held the Bucs to just one touchdown in Week 12.
On offense, Stafford is in the midst of an MVP campaign, Puka Nacua is a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries and Davante Adams has a league-leading 12 touchdown catches.
“I'm having the most fun playing that I've ever had,” Adams said. “It's just one of those teams where we just have a lot of fun together. ... Sean's always talking about being totally, and completely present, and that's really where we are. I mean, it's not really nobody's thinking about the third quarter. Nobody's thinking about the end of the game. It's more about just enjoying where our feet are and going out and playing the biggest team sport that there is. Together and coming out, obviously, on top of a lot of these games, that helps the feeling of a lot as well.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Rams deserve to be feeling good. The surging Rams are atop the NFC. The No. 1 seed is a suitable spot for them at this juncture in the regular season, because they are playing like the best team in the NFL right now, and Stafford is performing like an MVP.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams make two statements in dominant win over Buccaneers
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