Is this Matthew Stafford’s best supporting cast ever?

Since coming to the Motor City in 2009, is the 2019 version of the Detroit Lions the best cast surrounding quarterback Matthew Stafford ever?

The 2019 version of the Detroit Lions appears to be, at least on paper, better than the one the Motor City fielded last season. That following an terrific free agency haul and the addition of the recent draft class. But is the best supporting cast ten-year veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has ever had in Motown?

The best season Stafford has ever posted in Detroit was in 2014, when the Lions went 11-5 under head coach Jim Caldwell. It was Caldwell’s first season with the Lions and would ultimately be his best. Under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, Detroit would finish ranked 19th in total offense, 12th in passing and 28th in rushing. They scored an average of 20.1 points per game, only good enough for 22nd in the NFL.

Stafford finished that season recording 4,257 yards, 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His completion percentage of 60.3 was the 25th worst in the NFL. Stafford hasn’t posted a completion percentage worse than 65.3 ever since.

In 2014, the Lions’ bread and butter was their defense. With Teryl Austin as coordinator, Detroit fielded the second best defense in the NFL, only allowing 300.9 yards per game to opposing offenses. Detroit was tied for second in points allowed per game with 17.6. They ranked 13th against the pass and first against the rush, allowing a league-low 69.3 yards on the ground per contest.

So will the Lions’ be able to field a similar roster this season to the one that had so much success in 2014? Let’s compare the rosters.

At quarterback, the Lions will field an older, more accurate Stafford in 2019. At running back, the Lions’ top rushers in 2014 were Joique Bell (860 yards, 7 tds) and Reggie Bush (297 yards, 2 tds). In 2019, it should be a combo of Kerryon Johnson and C.J. Anderson under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. If you want an idea of what to expect from a Bevell-led offense, click here: What to expect from a Darrell Bevell offense.

At wide receiver, it’s hard to compete with the combination of Calvin Johnson (71 recs, 1,077 yards, 8 tds) and Golden Tate (99 recs, 1331 yards, 4 tds). The next three players with the most receptions in 2014 were running backs. Detroit is certainly hoping the combination of current wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Danny Amendola can have similar production.

At tight end, both seasons featured first-year, first-round players in Eric Ebron and T.J Hockenson. But Ebron struggled his rookie season, catching only 25 of his 47 targets for 248 yards and a single score. Undoubtedly the Lions are hoping for much more production from Hockenson and free agent signee Jesse James.

The offensive line play should be better in 2019 as well with players like Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Ricky Wagner and Frank Ragnow as projected starters. Back in 2014, the lineup featured names like Riley Reiff, Rob Sims, Dominic Raiola, Larry Warford, and LaAdrian Waddle.

But again, it was defense that rule the day back in 2014. The combination of Ndamukong Suh and Ezekiel Ansah racked up a total of 16.0 sacks along the Lions’ defensive line. Linebacker DeAndre Levy racked up an incredible 155 tackles. And safety Glover Quin posted his lone Pro Bowl season, leading the NFL with seven interceptions.

In 2019, the Matt Patricia-led defense will try to crack the top ten again with some new faces like defensive end Trey Flowers, rookie linebacker Jahlani Tavai and cornerback Justin Coleman. They join established veterans like cornerback Darius Slay, linebacker Jarrad Davis and safety Quandre Diggs. Don’t forget one-year wonders like linebacker Devon Kennard, defensive tackle Damon Harrison and second-year defensive line phenom Da’Shawn Hand.

Is this the best supporting cast ever for quarterback Matthew Stafford? Only time will tell. But at least on paper, this seems very comparable to the 2014 version of the 11-5 Detroit Lions … if not better.