Detroit Lions coaches or quarterbacks to blame for losing?

The Detroit Lions have lost many times, but who’s to blame?

Another unsuccessful season has come to a close for the Detroit Lions. It’s the third year in a row the team has finished with a losing record, all under former head coach Matt Patricia. There are so many reasons to point to for this team falling short in the win category, but one reason continues to be misplaced time and time again.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is an easy target that needs to be cleared of friendly fire. After all, he did lead the team out of an 0-16 season and into the playoffs three times. For a bit of perspective, let’s look at the Lions’ success (or lack thereof) this century before Stafford was on the team.

Marty Mornhinweg coached in 2001-02 and totaled five wins. Steve Mariucci won five, six and five games coaching the team the next three seasons. Then, from 2006-08, Rod Marinelli won there, seven and ZERO games. Indeed, the Charlie Batch, Joey Harrington, and Jon Kitna quarterback years were not successful.

In 2009, enter Stafford and head coach Jim Schwartz. In his first year, these Detroit Lions won two whole games. The next year, six victories. But in 2011, Stafford’s third year, the team won 10 games and made the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Blame that on Stafford if you’d like.

It was the first time this century the Lions won double-digit games. The second time was in 2014 under coach Jim Caldwell with Stafford still at quarterback. The point is Stafford has posted more winning seasons for the Lions than any quarterback has in the past 20 years. He’s the best quarterback this franchise has ever seen and is simply not the problem.

Looking back, Schwartz and Stafford together for five years and from the beginning were the best chance the Lions had to win a playoff game. No other coach was given more than four years at the helm since Wayne Fontes, well before 2000. Caldwell got three years plus a lame-duck season once general manager Bob Quinn was hired. Everyone else had three years or less.

The lack of consistency in the coaching department highlights the “what have you done for me lately” expectations of the NFL and its fans. Some coaches shouldn’t have been given the chance while others should have had more time to get their players in a position to win. It takes time to retool a team for a given scheme or desired culture.

Maybe the best coaches play to their players’ strengths and adapt their systems accordingly. Maybe other great coaches are given time to acquire the players they need to win. The Detroit Lions either never had the best coaches or those great coaches were never given the time to make it work.

Stafford is the one consistent piece of the puzzle that these Detroit Lions could have built around for success. Four years out of his 12 with the team can be considered successful with winning records and three playoff appearances. Stafford has been successful despite everything else going on around him, including players, coaches, and culture. Whether he stays in Detroit or not, he simply can’t be blamed for the losing records.