Detroit Lions fans: Matthew Stafford is not the problem

Don’t blame Stafford just because you’re a hater

Now let’s get the record straight; Matthew Stafford is not perfect and has certainly made his share of mistakes during his career in Detroit. However, he has been nothing shy of the Lions MVP this season. As a matter of fact, there are less than a handful of quarterbacks in the NFL playing better than him right now.

Let’s also get this straight; I’m not saying he is an MVP candidate either. If the Lions had a winning record he would be but under the circumstances of the Lions record, he is not. Unless the numbers are so gaudy that they could only have been put up on a video game, the only way a player wins the MVP is if his team is winning.

For that reason alone he isn’t an MVP candidate, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had a very good season. Quite frankly if the Raiders hadn’t called a time out at the end of the game last Sunday, I think the Lions had an extremely good chance to tie it up since Stafford would have called a play quick and had a choice of Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay or even Danny Amendola to throw the ball to. Instead, they were all on the sidelines due to the poor play call Matthew was saddled with.

Matthew Stafford is in the top 10 of every meaningful passing category in the NFL this season, even without the aid of a running game. Yes, he has a few terrific receivers to work with, a promising young tight end and a very good receiver out of the backfield in McKissic as well. But he still has to make the reads. He still has to get them the ball.

It should also be pointed out that he doesn’t play defense. He hasn’t missed a tackle, blown a coverage or been driven five yards off the line of scrimmage allowing a hole for a running back to pile up easy yardage through.

Nor has he had the luxury of eating up the clock with a ball-control running game. So for everyone who says that this season is Matthew Stafford’s fault, I suggest you get your glasses checked.