Let me start by saying that Matthew Stafford is absolutely one of the best quarterbacks in Detroit Lions history. By the numbers, he has put every other Motor City signal-caller to shame. As a matter of fact, he has even put a lot of Hall of Fame quarterbacks to shame in the statistical category.
Yet the numbers that mean the most, like playoff wins and championships, has been the bane of his existence. It’s why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in Lions history and not the best.
Anyone interested in defending Matthew due to the incredible numbers he has put up in his career is welcome to. But I believe in a different standard. I believe in counting rings, not passing yards or touchdown passes.
Matthew is one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever don a Lions jersey but results matter. Andre Ware, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Houston that the Lions drafted with their first-round pick in 1990 was extremely talented.
But he was barely able to see playing time because he couldn’t beat out Rodney Peete or even Erik Kramer. His inability to adjust to the pro game and lack of accuracy caused him to be out of the league in four years at the age of 25. An age that he should have been hitting his prime.
Now the difference between Matthew Stafford and Andre Ware is beyond monumental. Matthew has accomplished quite a bit. As a matter of fact in other cities that don’t scrutinize him as the Detroit media does, he is considered a talented player that many of those fans would like to see on their own team.
And for everyone who wants to say that he’s just a player putting up big stats, consider what he has had to work with. Sure Calvin Johnson will go down in history as one of the greatest receivers the NFL has ever seen, but until the last few years with Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, and Kenny Golladay, who else has he had to throw to?
We also need to consider that no other quarterback in NFL history has eight come from behind victories in one season on their resume and only 13 other passers have more comeback wins overall.
In short, Matthew is extremely talented and capable of winning games in clutch situations. He just needs to start producing them in the playoffs, but he can’t do it without the help of his teammates.