‘Old heads’ Patrick Peterson, Matthew Stafford to meet 1 more time in Steelers-Rams game
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As Patrick Peterson said Wednesday, he knows he’s an “old head” in the NFL. The No. 5 overall pick 12 1/2 years ago, Peterson is one of only 13 active players left from the 2011 draft class.
Peterson is looking forward to Sunday when he can match wits against one of the few players left older than he is.
When Peterson’s Pittsburgh Steelers face the Los Angeles Rams, the opposing quarterback will be one of just two players left from the 2009 draft: 15-year veteran Matthew Stafford.
“Matthew Stafford has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league for a while,” Peterson, a future Hall of Fame cornerback, said after Steelers practice Wednesday. “Me and him are kind of the OG’s, the old heads in the game right now. But he’s doing the same things when he was with Calvin Johnson back in the early (2010s).”
Stafford in 2011 and 2012 led the NFL in passing attempts, and over a seven-year span during the early part of the last decade averaged more than 4,500 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes per season for the Detroit Lions. Two years ago after a high-profile trade, Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win.
With the top 10 of the NFL’s all-time passers in sight by the end of this season, Stafford is building a Hall of Fame resume. And as the maestro of the Sean McVay Rams offense, he’s a threat for the Steelers to prepare for even at age 35.
“Matt Stafford is experienced,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “and really good, pinpoint accurate, can deliver the ball just about anywhere on the field. He does a really nice job of utilizing all of his eligibles.”
The 33-year-old Peterson on Wednesday was reminiscing about some of the eight meetings over the years that he’s had against Stafford.
“I will never forget… my very first one against him, my second year in the league, (Dec. 16, 2012), late in the year and I’m having a kick-ass year… second in the league in (interceptions) at the time… and I got targeted 22 times that game,” Peterson said. “Like, I never got targeted 20. That’s almost three games worth in one game! And I ended up getting an interception. Calvin had (121 yards on 10 catches) off 22 targets, it was something crazy but it felt like I played five games that one Sunday. That’s probably the most memorable one I have. Also have another one, Calvin Johnson his last year (in the NFL) I got an interception off him (in a Oct. 11, 2015, win).”
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