Around the NFL Week 17

[MTK]

Stafford threw for 5,000 yards this year, nuff said.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Stafford threw for 5,000 yards this year, nuff said.

I think we all would be wise to remember when Stafford was throwing for just 7.0 yards per attempt. That was like, four weeks ago. At that point Stafford was a poor man's Carson Palmer.

I'm as surprised as anyone that Stafford managed to hit that number. I did not think he was capable. He exceeded my expectations.

I think the Lions feel like they found their franchise quarterback. Good for them. No one, myself included, should feel disappointed at such an achievement. If you had asked me before the season if there was any reasonable way that Stafford finished with more passing yards this year than Aaron Rodgers, I would have said injury only.

Aaron Rodgers - 9.2 YPA in 2011 (through week 16)
Matt Stafford - 7.5 YPA in 2011 (though week 16)

Good for the Lions. Good for Jim Schwartz. Good for Matthew Stafford. No one is disappointed that Stafford posted the best month of his career in December/January 2011/2012. If anything, I am disappointed in myself for losing faith in a 23 year old player as early as I did. And props out to GMScud for pointing out the error of my ways back then. You sir have wisdom that exceeds the need for hindsight to justify your opinions.

I still think Matthew Stafford has a long way to go. That's not really controversial. But I think he might be on par with, say, Matt Ryan at this point in their careers and thats a good place to be.