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Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford’s Last Chance?

By Joe Chapp

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It hasn’t been easy for the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. The team that selected him has made dramatic changes since he arrived.

Let’s be real. Following a forgettable 2008 season in which they finished 0-16, the Detroit Lions were an expansion team.

The change from Matt Millen to Martin Mayhew wasn’t easy. Mayhew came into a toxic situation that wasn’t going to be easy to turn around, luckily in his first year he was given something that most general managers would covet…a franchise quarterback.

That would be quarterback Matthew Stafford, the man that would lead the Lions back to the midst of glory years they once seen, when the 1957 Chevy Bel Air was a brand new car.

The Lions were a disastrous situation, It wasn’t going to be easy for Stafford to live up to the expectations – especially early on.

The following two years after the 2008 season; Detroit would go 8-24. In those two years Stafford played in only 13 games. In the 13 games Stafford played he was 3-10, but could you honestly blame Stafford? You couldn’t.

The Lions defense wasn’t good, and the offense around Stafford was a cast of misfits.

In 2011, Stafford would play all 16 games and enjoy a breakout year, throwing for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns compared to only 16 interceptions

Even then, that team was horrendously flawed and it showed as Matt Flynn had a phantom game passing for 469 yards where he earned a massive deal, that one game was a microcosm of the Lions horrendous defense, as the picks of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley made no impact the defense, they just didn’t have enough talent.

In the 2011 season, the Lions defense allowed 300 yards or more in 14 of their 16 games. Only two games, did they have under 300 yards, and only one was under 250 yards.

When the Lions made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, that was progress. After the 2011 campaign – three years removed from their winless season, Detroit has seen no progress but instead regression. The Lions showed their true colors – mediocrity.

The blame was solely placed on the shoulder of Stafford, and that simply was just an excuse put on the shoulders of Matthew Stafford for people to latch onto.

Detroit wasn’t good from the Schwartz regime, and that leaked into the start of the Caldwell regime.

The drafts of Mayhew failed the Lions, it wasn’t that Matthew Stafford was all to blame. Was he partly to blame? Without a doubt, but to blame him for the mess he couldn’t control? Undoubtedly stupid.

In Stafford’s time he has more situations to deal with then most quarterbacks. He’s dealt with horrible offensive lines, terrible defense’s – who even we he scored it did no good and dropped passes – a plenty.

The Lions enter 2015 with expectations, something they haven’t had in my lifetime.

The Lions expect to make the playoffs, and expect to win and that’s where the season will rest solely on the shoulders of Matthew Stafford.

Stafford is only 27, which ties him with Sam Bradford, Ryan Tannehill and Andy Dalton between the four none have a playoff win.

Stafford is entering the year where expectations must meet reality. The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since 1991 – and with the added weaponry this is Stafford’s last chance to prove he can be the guy to lead Detroit to the promised land.

Stafford is regarded a top 12 QB. ESPN ranked him 12th, and said,

"“No doubt, he is a 2 (Tier two)  and I love him, but something is missing,” he said. “Stafford could be like Aaron Rodgers if he had the burning passion and if he had Mike McCarthy from Day 1, because he is talented like that and quick with the ball. But you look at the look on Stafford’s face before the game and then look at Rodgers’ face or Big Ben’s face or Luck’s or especially Drew Brees‘ face or Philip Rivers‘ face.“… you look at Matthew Stafford’s eyes and it’s like gym class. It’s like, ‘I hope we win, I think we are pretty good’ as opposed to, ‘I am going to rip your throat out.’ It is always the want-to and passion and desire that separates guys. Stafford should be there with Big Ben. Rivers is OK physically, but does it all by heart and leadership.”"

The slow progress of Matthew Stafford while not solely on him grows the mystique this might not be “the guy” – in Detroit they’ve seen the Red Wings, Pistons and Tigers win championships in their regarded sports, but have never seen the Lions even play in a Super Bowl.

The proving ground for Stafford is there, he comes into an offense in 2015 – that has more talent then he’s ever had. The likes of Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, Ameer Abdullah, Joique Bell and of course Calvin Johnson.

With an improved offensive line, there’d be no excuse for Stafford to have another subpar year.

Stafford awaits the first week of one of the most important seasons in his career. This season is a season for Detroit to finally show they’re here to stay as back-to-back playoff appearance would be their first since the 1994-95 seasons.

There’s reasons why the Lions haven’t been made “believers” out of even the most bombastic NFL fans. They haven’t done enough. This past season was a step in the right direction under new head coach Jim Caldwell. A lot of people didn’t expect the playoffs.

As the Lions exceeded expectations last year, those expectations remain high despite the loss of All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. This year, the Lions’ hopes rest on the shoulder of Stafford. If he excels in Year Two of the new offense, the Lions will make the playoffs. If he fails, it will be once again be another lost season.

As Detroit prepares for its final preseason game, the focus will shift to the regular season. Can Stafford lead a once-proud franchise to the top of the mountain? It remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place to succeed.

Next: What are expectations for Ameer Abdullah?

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