Pre-season? Lol
Agree to disagree
We saw Green in action in 2000, and while he put up decent numbers, it wasnt the same. Warner was the straw that stirred the drink
What Warner could do between the numbers on slants was incredible
Alas...
Stafford best regular season for Ram QB ever?
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Agree to disagree
We saw Green in action in 2000, and while he put up decent numbers, it wasnt the same. Warner was the straw that stirred the drink
What Warner could do between the numbers on slants was incredible
Alas...
Playoffs for that '99 roster is not some high bar. They were loaded. Probably could have made the playoffs with a ton of QBs.
The bitter taste of defeat makes the sweet nectar of success all the more exquisite.
Has my vote and I would argue Stafford's playoff run in 2021 was the best by a Ram QB too.
It's no disrespect to Kurt, just the inexorable march of time and greatness that eventually someone is going to surpass you.
It's no disrespect to Kurt, just the inexorable march of time and greatness that eventually someone is going to surpass you.
There’s a reason why all of Marino’s records have fallen and the TD and yardage records keep going up.
The GSOT.
Football was boring when you watched anybody else in ‘99, wasn’t it? The league saw how incredible and exciting football could be. But Kurt Warners, Marshall Faulks, Isaac Bruces, et al, don’t grow on trees. So rules were changed. Now the game in general is more dynamic when its stars play.
Having said all that, all but ONE QB (Brees) who has thrown 45 or more TDs in a season has won the MVP. Brees threw 46 but lost out to the guy who threw 45. Marino was the first and everybody else came after the GSOT.
Warner did what nobody saw coming and the league was forever changed.
The GSOT.
Football was boring when you watched anybody else in ‘99, wasn’t it? The league saw how incredible and exciting football could be. But Kurt Warners, Marshall Faulks, Isaac Bruces, et al, don’t grow on trees. So rules were changed. Now the game in general is more dynamic when its stars play.
Having said all that, all but ONE QB (Brees) who has thrown 45 or more TDs in a season has won the MVP. Brees threw 46 but lost out to the guy who threw 45. Marino was the first and everybody else came after the GSOT.
Warner did what nobody saw coming and the league was forever changed.
Classic Rams
Hall of Fame
As for bests, we know it's really close. Greatness with an unheard of guy before then and then greatness with age and experience. 2 offensive coaching masterminds and a boatload of weapons. And a little luck, there's always that.
I love seeing Stafford move up the record list. And if he wins another playoff game or 2 he becomes that much more eligible for the hall. A 2nd SB win comes with a guarantee.
Here's the numbers we've enjoyed from our QBs.....playing for great OCs/HCs
Warner 52 G 52 GS (35-15) 1117 of 1677 (66.6%) for 14408 yds (8.59 y/a) 102 TD (6.1%) 65 Int (3.9%) 97.5 QB rating
Bulger 44 G 44 GS (28-16) 987 of 1518 (65.0%) for 11932 yds (7.86 y/a) 71 TD (4.7%) 51 Int (3.4%) 90.6 QB rating
Goff 62 G 62 GS (42-20) 1424 of 2216 (64.3%) for 17081 yds (7.71 y/a) 102 TD (4.6%) 48 Int (2.2%) 94.1 QB rating
Stafford 74 G 74 GS (46-28) 1664 of 2539 (65.6%) for 19407 (7.64 y/a) 141 TD (5.6%) 52 Int (2.0%) 98.5 QB rating
Some pretty good QB play. But where the rubber meets the road is in the postseason.
Stafford 7 G (5-2) 168 of 247 (68.0%) for 2088 yds (8.45 y/a) 15 TD (6.1%) 3 Int (1.2%) 109.2 QB rating
Warner 7 G (5-2) 169 of 268 (63.1%) for 2221 yds (8.28 y/a) 15 TD (5.6%) 10 Int (3.7%) 92.3 QB rating
Bulger 3 G (1-2) 68 of 113 (60.2%) for 944 yds (8.35 y/a) 4 TD (3.5%) 5 Int (4.4%) 80.4 QB rating
Goff 6 G (3*-3) 113 of 197 (57.4%) for 1300 yds (6.60 y/a) 4 TD (2.0%) 2 Int (1.0%) 79.9 QB rating
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I don't think this generation of fans will ever see another Kurt Warner story.
His path and the Rams path at that time was massive for me and others. 99 was pure magic for the Rams and myself. Stafford is so good right now, but I think even he would understand fans pointing to Warner over him.
His path and the Rams path at that time was massive for me and others. 99 was pure magic for the Rams and myself. Stafford is so good right now, but I think even he would understand fans pointing to Warner over him.
Sure. Warner was a total surprise. His accidental arrival bringing the Rams first ever Super Bowl win can never be equaled. Does it even happen without Marshall Faulk? Ike? I'm not so sure.
But fact is there's no such thing as a second first kiss or a second first impression. Having said that, it's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world and Stafford has brought Rams fans their most recent championship. And who knows, maybe another is on the way.
So I'll tip my cap to Warner. And Faulk. And Ike. And Martz. And Vermeil. And thank them each, equally.
But I'll add this......I sure hope Stafford plays another season or two. He needs:
775 pass attempts to be #1 all time in Rams history
306 pass completions for the #1 slot
14 TDs for #1
And 4352 yards.
IF he accomplishes all that, he'll be the #1 Rams QB of all time, statistically. If he brings another Super Bowl title to Ramsnation, he will be the best who ever played QB for the Rams in every way.
Stafford is the best QB the RAMS have ever had period. Tight windows, arm angles, no looks and just a great dude. Anyone who questions if he is a first ballot HOF is out of their fucking minds.
After the mugging the Rams’ receivers received in the SB two years later, the rules surrounding illegal contact and defensive holding changed. Contact after 5 yards was now a penalty and holding before the pass was airborne would be more heavily scrutinized.
After that?
Manning, Brady, Brees, Rogers, et al started throwing for 45+ TDs in a season (a couple of those guys did it more than once). 100+ catches became more routine and rec yards ballooned.
The run heavy offense went on life support.
I believe he said as much. He had to learn to slow down after playing in such a fast paced game.
True story:
I lived in San Jose, CA in ‘99. When the Rams got Trent Green, I was excited. “Finally! We have a QB!”
—then he got hurt and I was crushed.
“Who the hell is Kurt Warner?”
A buddy of mine had season tickets to the SJ Sabrecats. I remember him telling me he had seen Warner play arena ball and, “That dude is bad.”
“But it’s arena football.”
“I’m telling you, that dude is bad.”
I guess SOMEBODY knew. Not me.
Also from 99, there was that ball hitting the ground with control would be considered a catch.
The lack of that rule helped the Rams win in 99 almost as much as their offense.
Oh man. Dieter yes, I think with the extent of weapons and protections he would get us there. Mannion probably not. It's hard to say but keep in mind our defense that year was 3rd overall in points allowed. They locked a lot of leads down and early in games got the ball back to the QB very quickly.
Kurt Warner's story book season will forever live with the Greatest Show on turf, and he will never be forgotten by Ram fans. However, Stafford has a larger body of work and is plying his trade in an age where defense has advantages over the offenses. The Greatest Show on Turf redefined the NFL offenses and changed how defensive coaches scheme against this type of attack.
The Horns that partied like it was 1999 benefitted greatly from the fact that NFL defenses were used to only having 2-3 decent CBs. There were hardly any safeties back then who were capable of consistently covering a solid TE or a WR moonlighting as a RB like Marshall Faulk. (Too bad we lacked a a top pass catching TE: we would really have been even more unfairly talented!!!)
2-3 decent CBs? Welcome to Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Ricky Proehl, and the Wizard of Az! Oh, and by the way, we also have this feature back named Marshall who can run legitimate WR-quality pass routes. Let's see just how good your defense is at running track & field with Special K's fly boys!
The 1999 defense had a relatively easy time. The O scored so easily, all the D had to do was pinned back their ears and assault the opposing QB who was usually forced to completely abandon the original game plan and morph into Mad Bombers in their efforts to keep pace with our video game quality offense.
Matthew is having to work against defenses that field 3-4-5 quality CBs thanks to the NFL's need to adjust to the high powered passing attack revolution highlighted by the 1999 Horns. Warner got little respect from the refs when he was hit late and oftentimes neither does Matthew now. The NFL has become somewhat used to these high powered passing O's, but somehow Sean McVay is managing to tweak things a couple notches higher. Can you imagine what this offense will look like with a Matthew enjoying solid chemistry grooves with Puka, 'Tae, his TE crew (especially a more mature Ferguson!), and better chemistry with the other WRs and RBs in 2026!?!
2-3 decent CBs? Welcome to Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Ricky Proehl, and the Wizard of Az! Oh, and by the way, we also have this feature back named Marshall who can run legitimate WR-quality pass routes. Let's see just how good your defense is at running track & field with Special K's fly boys!
The 1999 defense had a relatively easy time. The O scored so easily, all the D had to do was pinned back their ears and assault the opposing QB who was usually forced to completely abandon the original game plan and morph into Mad Bombers in their efforts to keep pace with our video game quality offense.
Matthew is having to work against defenses that field 3-4-5 quality CBs thanks to the NFL's need to adjust to the high powered passing attack revolution highlighted by the 1999 Horns. Warner got little respect from the refs when he was hit late and oftentimes neither does Matthew now. The NFL has become somewhat used to these high powered passing O's, but somehow Sean McVay is managing to tweak things a couple notches higher. Can you imagine what this offense will look like with a Matthew enjoying solid chemistry grooves with Puka, 'Tae, his TE crew (especially a more mature Ferguson!), and better chemistry with the other WRs and RBs in 2026!?!
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Gracias! So, if I am reading into this correctly, it was much harder to complete a pass back in 1999 than it is today here in 2026. You think I got that right?