Matthew Stafford vs. Aaron Rodgers: Big gap between signal-callers?
Verdict
No one is saying that Rodgers isn’t good. Lord knows we hear it enough. Or perhaps, a bit too much. However he does deserve to be mentioned as one of the very best at his position, both now and in NFL history. What is much less frequently said is how much this gap has closed between Rodgers and Stafford in being the best in the NFC North now.
The calculations were not decisive in pointing to one player as superior in all ways. Rodgers has an edge in touchdowns and turnovers, no doubt. However, Stafford’s numbers are comparable and better in some ways, too.
Factors to consider
Rodgers has also had a 1,000+ yard rusher five times, to Stafford’s one. The Green Bay defense was top 10 in three different seasons, including Rodgers’ Super Bowl season. Meanwhile, Stafford has had a top 10 defense once; that year both Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson were hurt for significant portions of the year, including going into the infamous, Dallas flag-pick-up, wild card game.
Stafford detractors are quick to quote his record versus winning teams. As if he was the only person playing. Football is the ultimate team game. Rodgers, as good as he is, hasn’t participated in a Super Bowl in seven years. He has consistently been a playoff participant, though.
With Stafford in the game the Lions are 6-52 against winning teams. Is some of that on him? Sure, but for the last few years, in particular, I would lay very few losses at his feet. The defense has consistently been in the bottom half of the league under former head coaches Jim Caldwell and Jim Schwartz.
I just wanted to give Lions fans some numbers to combat the steady stream of haters that try to use Stafford as some punchline.
Next: Detroit Lions - The best draft picks of the past decade
Let me know what you think in the comments, below. Follow me on Twitter at CoachKirk, @mkirk2, and get more Detroit sports content plus the other varied interests of a die-hard Lions fan! Thanks for reading. Sorry, I didn’t do better.