Detroit Lions: If Matthew Stafford goes, then everyone must go

The Detroit Lions will be faced with major decisions at the end of this season. Will there be drastic changes? Or will they try to build on what they have?

The Detroit Lions Thanksgiving loss to the Chicago Bears was hard to watch. Despite my personal feelings that losing will mean a better draft pick – and that in turn will mean a more meaningful acquisition – it just put a damper on the rest of the holiday. Plus, an increasingly bad feeling for every fan over another wasted season.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has taken a majority of the blame for the loss to the Bears, and not without cause, as he threw two interceptions. His first interception gave Chicago the lead, and his second one (when in position to tie the game) cost them the contest.

Making excuses for Stafford is not my style. It reminds me too much of all the litany of excuses thrown the way of quarterback Aaron Rodgers (of the Green Bay Packers). Rodgers is heaped mountains of praise for every win, and tons of justifications for why every loss is not his fault.

Not to say that Stafford’s resume is any where near as impressive as Rodger’s work history: playoff record (10-7), division titles (6), and of course a Super Bowl victory. Stafford has never won the division and only has three playoff appearances, which all resulted in losses.

After ten years, the Detroit Lions expected so much more out of Stafford. And the nagging question is: should this team move on without him?