Detroit Lions NFL 2015 News, Rumors: Make or Break Year for Matthew Stafford
Those who watch the Detroit Lions play their games say that if the team is going to take the next step it needs better, or maybe more consistent, play for its quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford has put up a lot of numbers in his NFL career but rarely have those stats led to on the field success for his team. In what was a very down 2014 year for Stafford, in his sixth season as a NFL starter, his team won 11 games and made the playoffs. In his statistical best season, 2011, the Lions went 10-6. In each of those seasons the Lions lost in the opening round of the NFL playoffs.
That led his Coach, Jim Caldwell, to make the following comments as reported by Pro Football Talk:
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"Someone said something about 'Hey, well Coach, you really need your quarterback to take off. No, we don't really need him to really take off. He's been doing well. He's improving steadily. Things in this league don't happen that way. No one makes a meteoric jump. It's gradual, it's too competitive. There are too many good players. And it's a tough league, and I do think he's making really good progress."
Even though it is his seventh Stafford's first two seasons were marred by injury. He only played in 13 games those two seasons, which makes 2015 his fifth full year as the starter and a real make or break campaign for the franchise QB.
If Stafford plays more consistently and can lead his team on the field, and the Lions get a playoff win under their belt they are clearly on the right path. If he regresses and the Lions falter on the field the Lions may be stuck with a highly paid QB who cannot get them to the next level.
