How much does Matthew Stafford have left in the tank?

The Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford is the centerpiece of the franchise, but how much does the teams’ all-time leading passer have left in the tank?

The Detroit Lions 2019 season is coming close to a merciful ending. However, what does the future hold in store for this franchise?

The questions about whether general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia will be brought back for next season keep swirling around, and frankly, Martha Firestone Ford hasn’t tipped her hand about what she is planning.

Then there are always questions about the roster. What additions will Quinn and Patricia make if they return or how widespread will the changes be if a new regime is brought in?

The one constant of the Detroit Lions seems to be inconsistency. Whether it be in their direction, roster or play on the field, the only thing you can count on is that they will be inconsistent.

It’s not anything we can say is welcome or comforting, but that’s the life of a Lions fan. Just when we think this franchise has found every possible way to humiliate themselves, they come up with some new unbelievable low that will embarrass them and us.

But in the midst of all this, there has been one other constant for the last 11 seasons; quarterback Matthew Stafford. After dealing with injuries in his first two years, he started on a streak of consecutive games played that lasted until just over a month ago when it was broken on November 10th in Chicago.

The streak had been 136 consecutive games played. Not all of them were great performances, but despite often having little help around him and the offensive line frequently failing to protect him causing Matthew to suffer tremendous abuse from opposing defenses, he has been the reason for almost every win this franchise has had over the last decade.

Even if there haven’t been as many victories as we would like, especially in the playoffs, Matthew has more often than not been the reason the Lion have won games.

Yet one way or another despite the criticism from the media and fans as well as the physical abuse he has had to endure, he always found a way to get back on his feet and back in the huddle. Game after game and season after season.

Now for the second straight year, he is experiencing back issues. He played through it last season, but it knocked him out of the lineup this year. This leads us to the real question; is all the abuse Matthew has suffered finally taking its toll?