Sean McVay has frequently talked about a marriage between the run and pass since taking over as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. He understands you can make life more difficult for defenses by calling plays that look the same at the start but then diverge in ways that move defenders out of position.
Matthew Stafford has benefitted this season from that marriage of the run and the pass. He’s arguably the best quarterback in 2024 on plays that utilize play action:
Matthew Stafford has been one of the best play-action passers in the NFL this year:
1,151 yards (3rd)
8 TDs (3rd)
0 INTs (T-1st)
123.