Report Card: Grading the Detroit Lions at the quarter mark
Wow, the Detroit Lions are already at the quarter mark of the 2019 season? With their record at 2-1-1, SideLion Report grades every position group after four games.
It’s been a fascinating, exciting and often nerve-racking beginning to the NFL season in Michigan. What better time than the Detroit Lions’ current bye week at the quarter mark to hand out a report card in head coach Matt Patricia’s second year at the helm?
In this exercise, we break down each unit’s performance after four hard-fought contests and assign a grade, as well considering what to look forward to when they resume playing later this month. We start with the most pivotal position:
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford has been very good to start the 2019 season, gaining more confidence by the week under the fourth offensive coordinator of his career. He has spread the ball around well, as four different Lions have at least ten receptions on the year, currently the only team in the NFC North with that distinction.
He’s also looking downfield more this season; his 8.0 yards per passing attempt this year is the highest mark of his career. Many times this season, the Lions have bunched several receivers on one side of the formation, with one of them frequently getting open and Stafford finding them downfield.
He’s thrown only two interceptions, is on pace for his most touchdown passes since 2011 and has tossed some beautiful, scoring touch throws as well as several scorching rockets into tight windows. His heralded arm strength has shown no signs of decline in year 11. This offense suits him well, and even better things could be on the horizon for Stafford after the bye.
It hasn’t all been roses though. His completion percentage (62.4) is his lowest since 2014 and currently ranks him just 25th in the league. He carelessly lost a key fumble in the red zone against the Chiefs and leads an offense that is scoring touchdowns at just a 53.85% clip inside the opponent’s 20-yard line according to teamrankings.com, just 18th best in the NFL.
The completion percentage is concerning, but it may just be who Stafford is at this point, and maybe who he’s always been. He is built to use his powerful right arm to push the ball down the field, which will result in some off-target throws at times, in addition to some game-changing plays.
Of larger concern could be his health. Stafford surprisingly popped up on the injury report prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a hip injury but was able to suit up and perform well in that game. In turn, the bye comes at a good time for him and the Lions, and Stafford should be fine for their next contest. However, he labored through a painful back injury for stretches last year, and on the wrong side of 30, his physical condition will be a storyline to follow for Detroit’s final 12 games.
Overall, his ninth-ranked quarterback rating (102.6) helps confirm what has been the case for the majority of his career: Stafford is a very good quarterback, one who is likely the envy of more than half of the NFL. More of the same from him for the balance of 2019 will put the Lions in position to challenge for the NFC North crown.
Behind him, the Lions have cycled through a dizzying amount of backup signal-callers since the spring in their endless search for a reliable number two. Jeff Driskel and David Blough are currently on the roster, with a combined nine games of regular-season NFL experience between them (all belonging to Driskel). As is the case with most NFL teams, should either of their reserve signal-callers see any significant snaps this season, something probably went terribly wrong.
Grade: B+