Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford just keeps getting better

The Detroit Lions are blessed to have quarterback Matthew Stafford, a player who generally goes under the radar and keeps getting better.

It’s not easy to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Just ask the Cleveland Browns, the league’s rotating door at starting quarterback. That’s why the Detroit Lions and their fans should be ecstatic that they have quarterback Matthew Stafford under center and under contract.

It seems like every other week, Pro Football Focus (PFF) posts some crazy stat showing that Stafford is continually improving or highlighting that he’s in the top five of a desired statistical category.

Yet, Stafford is usually not the focus of praise compared to the Tom Bradys and Aaron Rodgers of the world; probably due to playoff and championship wins.

The tricky thing is, playoff and championship wins aren’t necessarily a talent. And if we want to talk about the player and their talents, you have to look at some of the stats that go along with the intangibles. Here’s the most recent stat shared by PFF:

With so many teams looking for a solid starting quarterback, why is Stafford still flying under the radar on the national stage? Because of Brady or Rodgers or Drew Brees and their success? Unfortunately, that might be the case. Too many stars at the position on teams with better playoff records.

The truth is, Stafford is starting to get more credit. He’s landed at number 31 on the Top 100 players list two years in a row. He also cracked the top 10 – coming in at his jersey number – on Gregg Rosenthal’s list of starting quarterbacks in 2018. Which makes one wonder, why did Jimmy Garappalo get so much praise after playing in only six games last year?

The answer to that question might lie in the storylines that get attention. A somewhat high-profile backup quarterback gets traded and starts helping his new team win football games. It’s a feel-good story for a player finally getting his shot after riding the bench behind a future Hall of Famer.

Stories like these bring attention to the player minus the stats and accomplishments. It’s hard not to get excited about the potential of what could be given a full season. Lions fans know more today about the potential coming to fruition as they watch Stafford actually playing and improving year after year. He deserves a little more recognition than the feel-good potential of the young guns. After all, he’s earned it.

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While watching teams report to training camp and prepare for the season, remember that these Detroit Lions have a strong, stable quarterback that won’t bring the question marks that come with the new players and rookies. And he’s still getting better every year.