SI ranks all 32 starting QB's. Stafford ranked.......

[Mitchrapp]

A playoff game?

Lol.

 

[dubbsco]

Who would you rather have Tony, what Cam Newton has?? Or what Matt Stafford has?? Hopefully this isn't even debatable.

So knowing that Cam Newton has less to throw to, he's still put up better QBR #s than our golden child.

 

[dubbsco]

Yeah really, Luck's won three playoff games in his first three years. Come on now Tony, you can do better than that.

 

[elrod817]

My question for the haters; what would it take to make you happy? Had we beaten Dallas would you actually consider the last season a success? What will appease you this coming season?

For as shitty as this team has been and the many, many years of misery this organization has put me (us) through; I feel like last year was a decent year and we're actually moving in a positive direction. I enjoyed last season, the ending was frustrating and we should have won that game, but it was more excitement than I've felt from a Lions season in a long time. Heartbreaking for sure, but to me, it was nice to actually be in a situation to have my heart broken versus the piles of shit that have been served in recent years.

 

[cheeno]

I wouldn't consider myself a hater, but I speaking for the hater,'s, slappies or otherwise I think everyone on this board enjoyed last year's season. Here are a couple milestones on my sliding scale of achievement for the Lions and what would make next season a success in my book. I guess it comes down to breaking some of those same old Lions streaks.

Win a road game against a team with a winning record - since I broke my iPhone 1
Beat GB in GB - since I lost my Alf pog slammer in a for keeps match
Make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since my tamagotchi was still alive
Win the division - since the last time I parted my hair in the middle
Win 1 playoff game - preferably a home one so I can be there to witness/cheer them on

That's my sliding scale from least to most difficult. I'm sure everyone has their own. Some are probably cool with 8-8.

 

[tomdalton22]

My question for the haters; what would it take to make you happy? Had we beaten Dallas would you actually consider the last season a success? What will appease you this coming season?

For as shitty as this team has been and the many, many years of misery this organization has put me (us) through; I feel like last year was a decent year and we're actually moving in a positive direction. I enjoyed last season, the ending was frustrating and we should have won that game, but it was more excitement than I've felt from a Lions season in a long time. Heartbreaking for sure, but to me, it was nice to actually be in a situation to have my heart broken versus the piles of shit that have been served in recent years.

for me...a winning record and a playoff berth is a successful season for most teams. Of course we want more!

 

[dubbsco]

Elrod, I'm tired of hearing the expression "moving in a positive direction." (not directed at you, just hearing it all the time) That's the coach speak you hear from teams that finished 4-12 the prior year. We are in year 7 of Matt Stafford, and have nothing to show for it. Nothing. 11 win seasons don't do it for me when they aren't followed by a playoff showing.

The NFL is filled with parody. The Lions have been unable to find it. And every time there is a discussion about Matt Stafford, there's always a "but" attached to it. But he didn't have everyone healthy. But he didn't have a great o-line. But he didn't have a running game. It's put up or shut up time for him. He was drafted and paid to lift the players around him. Have you seen that? I haven't. He's been a slightly above average QB who can't win on the road. I'm just tired of the excuses. Do something.

 

[elrod817]

Elrod, I'm tired of hearing the expression "moving in a positive direction." (not directed at you, just hearing it all the time) That's the coach speak you hear from teams that finished 4-12 the prior year. We are in year 7 of Matt Stafford, and have nothing to show for it. Nothing. 11 win seasons don't do it for me when they aren't followed by a playoff showing.

The NFL is filled with parody. The Lions have been unable to find it. And every time there is a discussion about Matt Stafford, there's always a "but" attached to it. But he didn't have everyone healthy. But he didn't have a great o-line. But he didn't have a running game. It's put up or shut up time for him. He was drafted and paid to lift the players around him. Have you seen that? I haven't. He's been a slightly above average QB who can't win on the road. I'm just tired of the excuses. Do something.

I understand and appreciate your frustration, but I think there are more teams in our shoes than not. There's a lot of bitching on this forum, which I understand too, but it seems like a Super Bowl is the only way to satisfy some. To me that's unreasonable to expect from such a shit-show of a franchise. We have to crawl before we can walk.

11 wins and a playoff appearance under a first year coach, I'll take it. And if Stafford is as bad as many on this forum would like to suggest, the fact that we've made the playoffs twice with him is all the more impressive. We should all be tickled pink that such an awful quarterback has made the playoffs twice. Shit sometimes I'll read these forums and feel that outside of Calvin some think everyone on this team blows. Which again, amazing that the Bad News Bears of the NFL can make the playoffs twice in five years with only one good player.

Personally, I'd be more frustrated as a Bengals fan.

So what makes dubbs happy this season?

 

[elrod817]

for me...a winning record and a playoff berth is a successful season for most teams. Of course we want more!

I'm with you tom. I'd be disappointed missing the playoffs, and of course I'd like to post a postseason 'w' against someone. The victory against Dallas was magical, but that was oh so long ago.

 

[elrod817]

I wouldn't consider myself a hater, but I speaking for the hater,'s, slappies or otherwise I think everyone on this board enjoyed last year's season. Here are a couple milestones on my sliding scale of achievement for the Lions and what would make next season a success in my book. I guess it comes down to breaking some of those same old Lions streaks.

Win a road game against a team with a winning record - since I broke my iPhone 1
Beat GB in GB - since I lost my Alf pog slammer in a for keeps match
Make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since my tamagotchi was still alive
Win the division - since the last time I parted my hair in the middle
Win 1 playoff game - preferably a home one so I can be there to witness/cheer them on

That's my sliding scale from least to most difficult. I'm sure everyone has their own. Some are probably cool with 8-8.

You're my e-bro life, but I see you slowly sliding to the hater's club, not that I blame you (or them). Go double or nothing on the Alf pog this season...childhood cheeno can thank me later...

 

[dubbsco]

Have to win a playoff game. That's the only way to prove that they are moving in the right direction. Even if they go 16-0 and get a first round bye, they HAVE to win a playoff game.

 

[Mitchrapp]

My question for the haters; what would it take to make you happy? Had we beaten Dallas would you actually consider the last season a success? What will appease you this coming season?

For as shitty as this team has been and the many, many years of misery this organization has put me (us) through; I feel like last year was a decent year and we're actually moving in a positive direction. I enjoyed last season, the ending was frustrating and we should have won that game, but it was more excitement than I've felt from a Lions season in a long time. Heartbreaking for sure, but to me, it was nice to actually be in a situation to have my heart broken versus the piles of shit that have been served in recent years.

Playoff success. 2011 was different, we hadn't been in some time so getting to the playoffs was a success. But now that we have we need to start winning playoff games.

And honestly some of the hate, especially our QB, is probably due to some saying he's really good to elite. And of course there will hate when someone spews out "The team is super bowl bound and hole-less.." Just the way it goes.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Based on the way the game was going in Dallas, I would have felt a lot better about Stafford if the team had won. That said, his regular season was still below average and I wouldn't have thought him an elite QB either way. Not that such a thought is an indictment of him, I think there are only 4-5 elite QBs in the league.

If someone says that a playoff victory is the only way for Stafford (or any QB) to validate themselves, they know very little about the 22-starter game of football. Similarly, anyone who builds a HoF case for a player using "Ringz!" (or any other cherry-picked stat) as their only argument should not be allowed to have an opinion. I'm a fan of compromise. Everyone who isn't incensed one way or the other about Stafford tends to think he is good enough, but not a franchise-carrying superstar. Everyone who loves him talks like he is one of the greats. Everyone who hates him talks like he shouldn't be on the field. What does that average out to?

 

[Mitchrapp]

Based on the way the game was going in Dallas, I would have felt a lot better about Stafford if the team had won. That said, his regular season was still below average and I wouldn't have thought him an elite QB either way. Not that such a thought is an indictment of him, I think there are only 4-5 elite QBs in the league.

If someone says that a playoff victory is the only way for Stafford (or any QB) to validate themselves, they know very little about the 22-starter game of football. Similarly, anyone who builds a HoF case for a player using "Ringz!" (or any other cherry-picked stat) as their only argument should not be allowed to have an opinion. I'm a fan of compromise. Everyone who isn't incensed one way or the other about Stafford tends to think he is good enough, but not a franchise-carrying superstar. Everyone who loves him talks like he is one of the greats. Everyone who hates him talks like he shouldn't be on the field. What does that average out to?

Who said it validates him? He's average weather he wins 5 game or a SB. But the success of a team you need a playoff win once in a while.

 

[cheeno]

You're my e-bro life, but I see you slowly sliding to the hater's club, not that I blame you (or them). Go double or nothing on the Alf pog this season...childhood cheeno can thank me later...

Yep e-brother from another mother I lean a little negative on Stafford. I loved him in 2011. I thought the sky's the limit for him and as a result our favorite club. I remember debating a Cowboys fan on this very board that year over the Stafford vs Romo comparison and I thought hands down and by a wide margin Stafford was the better QB. He has took a step back since that year and the arrow continues to point sideways in terms of his progression. I would love to see him get that magic back somehow and deep down I will always hope the apologists are right and this is the year he takes off again.

I am a Mayhew hater, no bones about it. When he didn't take a fine young Pitt Panther in Donald, that was the final straw. Ever Pitt grad I know is a scholar and a gentleman.

 

[elrod817]

Playoff success. 2011 was different, we hadn't been in some time so getting to the playoffs was a success. But now that we have we need to start winning playoff games.

And honestly some of the hate, especially our QB, is probably due to some saying he's really good to elite. And of course there will hate when someone spews out "The team is super bowl bound and hole-less.." Just the way it goes.

It's hard for me to ascertain anymore...the classic what came first the chicken or the egg...but I think a certain, once logical, poster started spouting off some ridiculous things about a "holeless Super Bowl bound" squad in reaction to an inordinate, and perhaps a bit unnecessary, amount of negativity directed at a mainly subpar, at times mediocre, organization still trying to find its way. As you said, just the way it goes.

 

[Mitchrapp]

It's hard for me to ascertain anymore...the classic what came first the chicken or the egg...but I think a certain, once logical, poster started spouting off some ridiculous things about a "holeless Super Bowl bound" squad in reaction to an inordinate, and perhaps a bit unnecessary, amount of negativity directed at a mainly subpar, at times mediocre, organization still trying to find its way. As you said, just the way it goes.

Bottom line is a message board forum, especially related to sports, was basically made to argue and disagree. It doesn't work when we're all agreeing. I wish I felt good about Matt but I can't..I hope he does well just like anyone else. I root the same as everyone else, when we lost to Dallas it broke my heart as well..you move on and then talk brass taxes.

 

[elrod817]

Yep e-brother from another mother I lean a little negative on Stafford. I loved him in 2011. I thought the sky's the limit for him and as a result our favorite club. I remember debating a Cowboys fan on this very board that year over the Stafford vs Romo comparison and I thought hands down and by a wide margin Stafford was the better QB. He has took a step back since that year and the arrow continues to point sideways in terms of his progression. I would love to see him get that magic back somehow and deep down I will always hope the apologists are right and this is the year he takes off again.

I am a Mayhew hater, no bones about it. When he didn't take a fine young Pitt Panther in Donald, that was the final straw. Ever Pitt grad I know is a scholar and a gentleman.

I think you mean his arrow continues to point "sidearm." He's a frustrating piece of the puzzle. He's shown flashes of everything, good, bad, and ugly, in his career, but:

Y7 Stafford(Y2 Ebron + Y2 Lombardi) > Y1-6 Stafford

Mayhew's a mixed bag, but I like him recently despite whiffing on Donald. It's more Caldwell than Mayhew, but perhaps the most important Panther is on the payroll now...one Teryl Austin.

 

[cheeno]

In Austin we trust

 

[elrod817]

Ha! When we lose Austin I have the perfect solution. Remember a year or two ago, the Eagles had the brilliant idea of making their o-line coach the d-coordinator or something silly like that (which blew the fuck up in their face)? We just give Lombardi dual coordinator roles. He's an expert at limiting an offense's scoring output!