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7 Reasons the Lions Will Make the Playoffs in 2016

By Al Stahl

Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions fans cheer during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Lions win 32-17. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions fans cheer during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Lions win 32-17. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. The Lions won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. The Lions won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Matthew Stafford

Stafford improved his QBR by 14.1 points from the first half of the season to the second. He threw 16 touchdown passes and just two interceptions in the second half of the season. In the red zone, Stafford dominated. Inside the 20, he had the highest completion percentage in the NFL, he had the third most touchdown passes and he didn’t throw a single interception.

Those red zone numbers are over the whole season, not just the second half. And that was in a season where he was getting crushed by defensive linemen. He had top-8 passing numbers across the board in a year where only five quarterbacks were sacked more often. And he switched OCs in the middle of it.

With a full offseason of work put in with Cooter, Stafford may be one of the best quarterbacks in the league in 2016.

Next: Ranking NFC North QBs

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