WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – They have met before several times already during their days in the NFC North.
This week, a new chapter will be written as Matthew Stafford's Rams take on Aaron Rodgers' Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
"It's two great players," head coach Sean McVay said. "Two guys that have done it at a really high level."
This is the first time the two quarterbacks have faced off since Week 12 of the 2021 season, when the Packers defeated the Rams 36-28 at Lambeau Field. Both players eclipsed 300 passing yards, with Stafford throwing for three touchdowns and one interception, and Rodgers two touchdowns.
Los Angeles visited Green Bay again in 2022, but that Dec. 19 game did not include Stafford because he had been placed on Injured Reserve earlier that month with a neck injury. Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023, but the Rams did not have them on their schedule last year.
What makes each signal-caller stand out, according to McVay, is their ability to change arm slots on throws, make plays off-schedule and understand and manipulate defenses.
"I'm just excited to go up there and play," Stafford said. "Obviously, meaningful football in the month of December is an awesome thing to be a part of. We've earned that and we've got to continue to earn that opportunity to play games that matter. This just happens to be the next one on the list. I have a ton of respect for Aaron and have competed against him a bunch of times in my career. He's a hell of a player and does a great job. He's still doing a really good job for them. He played fantastic in the last couple of weeks. He looks to be healthy, moving around and doing his thing."
"Matt's one of my all-time favorite competitors to go against," Rodgers said this week on The Pat McAfee Show. "Just a lot of fun battles over the years, a lot of respect for him, plays the game in a way I totally respect. He's as tough as they come. He's savvy, he's smart, he's gritty, he's competitive. I've always been a big Matt Stafford fan, so excited to see him."
This season, Stafford has passed for 3,463 yards with 19 touchdowns against 7 interceptions; Rodgers has 3,255 with 23 touchdowns to 8 interceptions.
Both players are also in the Top 10 on several all-time NFL lists, including touchdown passes (Rodgers is fifth with 498, Stafford 10th with 376), completions (Rodgers seventh with 5,306, Stafford ninth with 5,143) and passing yards (Rodgers eighth with 62,310, Stafford 10th with 59,510).
Sunday will be the 18th head-to-head matchup between the quarterbacks. While none in particular stand out to Stafford, he enjoys the challenge of going against of Rodgers' caliber.
"I've had too many to even think about, to be honest with you," Stafford said. "It's always a good battle. [I have] a ton of respect for him. [He's a] great player in this league, an all-time great, has unbelievable talent and has accomplished a bunch. It's always a challenge going against him."
When Stafford missed that 2022 matchup, Rodgers said "we were thinking, 'shoot, this might be it'" when it came to opportunities for both quarterbacks to compete head-to-head. Perhaps that may be the case this Sunday, too, given Rodgers said this week that he will take some time after the season to ponder his football future.
"So it's good to have one more chance to compete against him," Rodgers said.
