Putting Matthew Stafford in the category of elite NFL quarterbacks is a bit premature. He's certainly at the level of the very good in the league, but not yet at the level of the premier.
However, Sunday against the Chicago Bears (he's probable, despite finger/ankle issue), Stafford has the chance prove doubters wrong, and escalate up the NFL quarterback ladder with a win. Eventually, he'll get to the top if he remains healthy and has a stable of play-making receivers around him.
Stafford is finally healthy -- for the first time in his three-year career -- and the Lions are on the brink of establishing themselves among the top clubs in the NFL. Defensively, and record-wise, the Lions (6-2, second in NFC-North) are worthy of being talked about along with the NFL's front-runners, but I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to delivering a playoff forecast just yet because the offense still needs work.
And for the record, I picked the Lions to go 9-7; a borderline NFC Wild Card team, depending how things took shape. That pick was also based on Stafford being healthy for the majority of the season.
Stafford -- in my eyes -- has a high ceiling of potential, but hasn't truly -- until this year -- showed what he's capable of. If the Lions are to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season, and Stafford to claim his pedastal, Week 10 at Solider Field is the perfect place to make that announcement.
He was efficient, but not spectacular, against the Bears in Week 5. I gave the majority of credit for the win to the defense, which had Bears quarterback Jay Cutler thrown out of sync. It didn't hurt that running back Jahvid Best gashed the Bears defense for 163 yards, either. I guess it was an effort that a coach could appreciate: A total team effort. Those aren't bad, but part of me wanted to see Stafford light the Bears up for an insane amount of yards.
Stafford may have a chance to equal, or better, his 219-yard passing performance from Week 5 due to the weather in Chicago. Chances are, this late in the season, the brisk air of the Windy City, accompanied by... well, the wind, and possible snow come into play.
But it's supposed to be 58 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain. No rain; air show is good to go. Rain; keep it on the ground.
But that doesn't mean much, because if Stafford can manage the game, make accurate reads and connect with receivers when needed, the Lions should be in good shape. And that win -- regardless if Stafford puts up gaudy numbers, or ends with 150 yards passing on 14-of-19 passing (or thereabouts) -- would be a benchmark victory in his young career.
Going on the road, battling the elements at Soldier Field (the crowd) and emerging on the good side of the score is what elite quarterbacks do. They don't have to execute SportsCenter-highlight throws, nor do they have spread the ball around to each receiver possible.
They just have to hold onto the ball, and not throw to the other team.
Yes, there have been plenty of games in which Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went on the road, managed the game -- failing to accumulate monstrous statistics -- and headed out with a win.
Elite. That's what it boils down to.
I'm not comparing Stafford to two of the best to ever play the game, I'm simply comparing performance needed to get the job done. Stafford will get credit -- and it'll be due -- if the Lions win, even if it wasn't his specific gameplay that led the Lions past the Bears.
He's the quarterback. He would have managed the game. He'd get his obligatory "handshake" from the media and move on.
Stafford and the Bears -- a brief, but somewhat promising relationship...
Stafford hasn't been horrible against the Bears, of course, when he's not getting his shoulder ripped out. Here's a look at how he's fared against one of the Lions' most disliked NFC-North foes, the Bears.
Week 5, 2011 at Ford Field: 219 yards on 19-of-26 passing, two touchdowns and an interception in the 24-13 win. That win started to make me a believer in Stafford.
Week 1, 2010 at Solider Field: (Calvin Johnson no-TD game; Stafford injures shoulder): Stafford was on pace for a solid game prior to being injured, connecting on 11 of 15 attempts for 83 yards in the 19-14 loss.
Week 4, 2009 at Soldier Field: Statistically, Stafford had a great game, throwing for 296 yards on 24-of-36 passing with a touchdown and interception in the 48-24 loss.
And speaking of gritty road wins, Stafford's day in Dallas during the Lions' 34-30 win qualifies as such. Here are the highlights.
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