When a no-look NFL throw actually matters starring Matthew Stafford

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Matthew Stafford’s no-look wizardry is not only cool as hell, but it can actually matter

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No-look throws from Matthew Stafford have become something of a norm, rather than an exception.

It seems that at least once during a Los Angeles Rams game, if not more, the veteran quarterback pulls off some wizardry in the pocket with his eyes and his arm. We all remember the no-look throw from Super Bowl LVI, coming late in the fourth quarter as the Rams closed in on a title. But that is just one example from what is becoming a rather long list.

And Stafford added to that list on Sunday night.

During the Rams’ blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stafford threw three touchdowns passes in the first half as Los Angeles raced out to a 31-7 halftime lead. And the second of those touchdowns, a rocket to Colby Parkinson, is another example of Stafford no-looking a throw in the middle of the field.

But as you will see in a moment, the decision to make a no-look throw in this spot actually matters, and is more than just a fancy bit of quarterback play.

On the touchdown, the Rams run a similar concept to the example from Super Bowl LVI. Parkinson runs a deep in cut, with Puka Nacua running an underneath route at the goal line. Stafford locks his eyes on Nacua underneath, which draws a pair of defenders to the wide receiver, and opens up the throwing lane to Parkinson on the in-breaking route:

From the end zone angle you’ll see why this truly matters. Watch safety Tykee Smith, No. 23. Smith is in underneath help coverage, and at the snap he slides to his right, putting him in the throwing lane between Stafford and Parkinson. But when the quarterback snaps his eyes to Nacua, Smith breaks on the WR.

Which is when Stafford delivers the rocket to Parkinson.

Now, you might wonder why Stafford does not get his eyes back to Parkinson before the throw, and rather than making a no-look pass to the tight end reset his eyes on the target. The main reason? Time. Everything in the red zone, and in particular this close to the goal line, happens fast. If Stafford takes any extra time, even the split-second it would take to get his eyes back to Parkinson, the tight end might run out of real estate in the end zone.

The other reason? Maybe it’s because it looks cool and gives people like me something to write about to kick off a holiday week.

But it’s probably the first one.

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