While the franchise ponders changes for 2020, Detroit Lions fans appear divided on whether quarterback Matthew Stafford is the future. Here’s why he is …
Why does it seem that Detroit Lions fans giving up on quarterback Matthew Stafford? That’s a question I wish I could answer myself. Stafford’s season-ending back injury really split the Lions fanbase more than I thought it would.
Ever since Stafford was drafted number one overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by Detroit, he’s been a polarizing player. When I say polarizing, I don’t mean it in a bad way. I’m just saying that you either love Stafford, or you hate him.
The people that love Stafford, like myself think he possessed elite-level talent. Season after season, he puts up solid numbers, and carries a struggling Lions team.
The fans that hate Stafford always hold onto the fact that he’s never won a playoff game. While that may be true, football is a team game. My argument to that statement is that Stafford is the reason Detroit even got to the playoffs. Now all of the sudden it’s all his fault that they don’t win one?
Since Stafford arrived in 2009, he’s had seven 4,000+ yard passing seasons. He also has a total of 34 career game-winning drives, and 28 comebacks.
You can’t deny, this man is clutch. Stafford shows up when the game is on the line. At the end of the day, fans remember how you perform in crunch time.
Yes, the veteran passer may be considered clutch, but Stafford still hasn’t gotten Detroit that playoff win, never mind the Super Bowl. That isn’t 100 percent on him though.
For all of his career, Stafford’s never had the right combination of pieces. One year, the defense is bad, but the offense is good. The next year, the defense is insane, but the running game is non-existent.
We saw what happened this past season without Stafford under center. Before his injury, Detroit was sitting at 3-4-1. Not the best record, but the Lions were in the hunt.
After Stafford’s injury, Detroit lost every single game, finishing with a mere 3-12-1 record. In almost all of those losses, the Lions had a decent chance to win. With the defense slightly improving later in the season, who knows what would’ve happened if Stafford was healthy.
For all of those saying the Lions should trade down in the draft to get Alabama quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, stop with that nonsense. Getting a rookie QB is only going to get you one thing, a repeat of the 2019 season.
Stafford barely survives with the pieces around him as it is. What makes you think getting an inexperienced QB is a better option?
Stafford is only 31-years old, he turns 32 in February. This man is still in the peak of his prime, and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. He probably has a good four to six years left of top-tier production.
With that being said, is that really what you want as a fan? Do you want to let go of the man who’s brought the most success to the Detroit Lions since running back Barry Sanders? No friends, Matthew Stafford is here to stay. Parting ways with him would be setting back this organization for years.