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It’s here! Week 1 of the NFL Season and familiar faces are returning to familiar places. The Detroit Lions host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. Matthew Stafford returns to Detroit for the first time since being sent home in the 2023 playoffs after losing 24-23. This gave the Lions their first playoff win in 30+ years.
Matthew Stafford As A Detroit Lion
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The Detroit Lions selected Matthew Stafford No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia. The Lions faithful believed change was around the horizon after being the first team in history to go winless at a dismal 0-16 record. The reward was getting to select Stafford in the draft. Stafford would go on to play for the Lions for 12 seasons before getting traded to the Rams.
Stafford is the All-Time Passing Leader in Lions history. This stat is for the Detroit Lions franchise. The Lions have been historically one of the worst NFL teams. Stafford took over the top spot from Bobby Layne, who had not only “cursed” the team but only had 15,000 yards passing. Layne played for the Lions in the 1950s, when the game was not what it is today.
In his time with Detroit, the Lions only made the playoffs three times, losing in every contest including the Cowboys, Seahawks, and Saints. The people of Detroit never blamed Stafford for the lack of success for the Lions. Yet, Stafford played with arguably one the best wide receivers of all time, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. He also had weapons like Golden Tate, Nate Burleson, and Marvin Jones. The Lions defense in 2014 with anchor Ndamukong Suh, was one of the best defenses to ever defend the run.
Detroit Lions Trade Stafford
When Detroit traded Matthew Stafford to the Rams, it was one of the most successful moves in Lions History. The breakdown of what each team received in the blockbuster trade:
Lions lost:
- QB Matthew Stafford
- 2022 34th overall pick (second round)
- 2022 66th overall pick (third round)
- 2023 81st overall pick (third round)
- 2023 122nd overall pick (fourth round)
- 2023 139th overall pick (fifth round)
Lions gained:
- QB Jared Goff
- WR Jameson Williams (first round, 12th overall)
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs (first round, 12th overall)
- TE Sam LaPorta (second round, 34th overall)
- DL Josh Paschal (second round, 46th overall)
- DT Brodric Martin (third round, 96th overall)
- DB Ifeatu Melifonwu (third round, 101st overall)
General Manager Brad Holmes was the first Lions GM to have the courage to trade the franchise cornerstone and let the team start over.
Goff is Detroit’s Guy
In a few short years, Jared Goff has done more than Stafford has ever done in a Lions uniform. Jared Goff has led the team to their first playoff win in decades and had the team a half away from a Super Bowl appearance. Goff was added to the trade as an afterthought but since he moved to Detroit, has been great. Taking one of the worst teams in all of football to a legit Super Bowl contender. Tonight you will hear a very loud Jared Goff chant from the native Detroiters.
Final Thoughts
Matthew Stafford had a decent career in Detroit but the fans always gave him excuses for not getting the job done. “He never had the weapons, or defense, or run game, or offensive line.” The problem was never Stafford yet he was the center of all of it. Going to the Rams, he was the perfect fit for the perfect time for a coach who gave up on Jared Goff.
As Dan Campbell said, “Jared Goff is [expletive] good enough for Detroit!” Stafford did not accomplish enough for the people of Detroit and should not be celebrated. If the day comes, he goes to Canton, you can bet he will go in as a Ram. “Jared Goff, Jared Goff, Jared Goff!”
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