Is this season cementing Matthew Stafford as Hall of Fame QB?

It’s been no secret that through the first seven games of the season, Matthew Stafford has been playing at an elite level. Stafford is within the top-10 in many advanced metrics including passer rating and EPA per dropback. The Rams quarterback is also second in PFF passing grade behind only Sam Darnold. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes and big-time throws while only throwing two interceptions.

In fact, with three touchdown passes against the New Orleans Saints, Stafford can become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 20 touchdowns and three-or-fewer interceptions in first eight games of season. He would join Tom Brady in 2007 and 2015, Patrick Mahomes in 2020, Aaron Rodgers in 2011 and 2020, and YA Tittle in 1963. All of those players except Brady in 2015 and Mahomes in 2020 won MVP. Brady lost it to Cam Newton and Mahomes lost it to Rodgers who is also on this list.

Stafford is currently in the top four of MVP odds, behind Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Drake Maye. However, if voters were able to cast midseason votes, Stafford would likely come second or third behind Mahomes and Maye.

While the MVP conversation will get sorted as the season plays out, it’s hard to not also think of what this season is doing for Stafford’s legacy. Even with a Super Bowl, Stafford is seen as a borderline Hall of Fame player. He’s certainly not a guaranteed first-ballot player and there will be a lot of discussion about his career when all is said and done.

However, this season has certainly helped his overall case. At 37 years old, Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career. Earlier this season, Stafford passed Dan Marino in all-time passing yards and Matt Ryan in all-time touchdowns to move to ninth in both categories. He also moved into the top-5 in fourth quarter comebacks. This was a recent discussion on The Rich Eisen Show and Eisen said how this season is the one that puts Matthew Stafford in the Hall of Fame. Said Eisen,

“This is the season that’s putting Matthew Stafford in the Hall of Fame. After this season, there should not be a single naysayer on the planet in regards to his candidacy for enshrinement. In the broadcast meeting with Davante Adams that we had, Kurt asked him, ‘I have seven kids, I will always say I don’t have a favorite, but you know some days I do. Who’s the best quarterback you’ve ever played with?’ And so Davante Adams said, ‘That’s ridiculous. I will just tell you this. Rodgers is the best thrower of the football. Stafford is the best manipulator of the defense.’ He’s number nine in terms of passing all time and touchdowns all time. He’s moving up the charts into some rarefied air. This is the season in which Matthew Stafford makes the Hall of Fame.”

A second Super Bowl would certainly lock Stafford in as a Hall of...