Detroit Lions land a player on NFL’s Top 30 over 30 list
The Detroit Lions had one player make it on the NFL’s top 30 over age 30 list
When it comes to offseason accolades, the Detroit Lions are all too often left out in the cold. And that seems to be a result of their lack of overall team success rather than a player’s own statistics or abilities.
The latest example being the NFL’s Top 100, where the Lions didn’t have a single-player make the touted list. This despite a Pro Bowl season from wide receiver Kenny Golladay who actually led the league with 11 receiving touchdowns.
But the Lions did land a representative on the NFL’s latest list. NFL.com recently released its Top 30 players over the age of 30 list. And Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford got a nod.
In fact, Stafford was listed as the 11th best player in the ranking, just outside the top-10 and the fourth-highest quarterback on the list. The passers ranked ahead of him included the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (1st), the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (4th), and the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan (7th).
But the Lions’ franchise passer was listed ahead of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks like the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees (18th) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady (17th). In total, eight veteran passers made up the NFL’s list of the top 30 players over 30.
Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford was on an MVP-pace last season
Stafford, who is entering his 12th season in the NFL, turned 32-years old in February. Last season, he played just eight games due to a back injury. But in those contests, he appeared to be on a league MVP-level pace.
The veteran passer threw for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 64.3 percent of his passes. Stafford’s 8.6 yards per passing attempt was the highest of his career.
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That downfield success for Matthew Stafford can be contributed to first-year offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who wanted to take more advantage of Stafford’s powerful arm and accurate deep ball. It also helped to utilize the skills of the Detroit Lions’ top-notch receiving corps which included Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola, and Marvin Hall.