(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The name of the game for Minnesota’s defense is blitz, blitz, and blitz some more. According to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings have blitzed 36.1% of the time this season, far and away the highest rate in the NFL; the Bucs are second with a 31.4% blitz rate.
When these teams met in Week 8, Stafford picked apart the Vikings defense when he was blitzed. He had 13 dropbacks against the pass, completing 10 of 13 passes for 128 yards with no sacks taken and only four pressures allowed by the Rams O-line, per Pro Football Focus. One of his three incompletions was a drop, too.
This season, Stafford has a 103.2 passer rating against the blitz, which ranks eighth among all quarterbacks. He’s completed 66.5% of his passes with eight touchdowns and two interceptions when blitzed this year.
The Rams know Brian Flores is going to blitz early and often, and with how well Stafford has performed against extra rushers, they should feel confident in their veteran quarterback.