Bleacher Report - Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford's Thanksgiving Shows the Folly of the "Statement Game"

Dean Holden — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:04:10 -0500

Matthew Stafford has arrived, and his legend has begun.

As of Monday, Nov. 23, that legend depicted Stafford as a child of the football gods, a immortal savior delivered unto the wretch of the Detroit Lions.

After setting an NFL rookie record with five touchdown passes, including a game-winner after a play in which he separated his non-throwing shoulder, the consensus was to declare him a wildly successful draft choice, destined for the Hall of Fame.

Then Thanksgiving came along, and the legend began a new chapter, as Stafford started the game injured after not practicing during the short week.

At the conclusion of that chapter, the legend reads quite differently.

Matthew Stafford is human.

More than that, he's a rookie, and any attempts to anoint him after one good game are fallacious at best.

Why? Because for rookies, the "statement game" doesn't exist.

Rookies don't need a statement game. It means nothing. What it means is that they have enough talent on a given day to perform well in the National Football League.

What that doesn't mean is that they have enough talent to perform consistently .

And consistency is ultimately the deciding factor when determining whether rookies are going to work out. A quick flash and fizzle of talent means far less in the NFL than a moderately good consistent player.

For example, Joey Harrington threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns in his fifth career NFL game. How did that one work out?

In the case of Stafford, a string of games with pedestrian-but-solid numbers would be far more exciting for his future than one great game followed by two mediocre games and an abysmal one.

Yes, Stafford had as many touchdown passes in four quarters as Andre Ware did in his four-season career, and that is certainly reason to get excited.

But a better reason to get excited is to find out Stafford is playing with consistency.

Consistency means he really has the stuff. If the great games and solid performances become the norm, rather than the exception, then we have ourselves an NFL quarterback, and likely a good one.

But don't be fooled, Stafford is still a rookie quarterback who has yet to determine whether he will reach his potential.

The Cleveland game shows only that the potential exists.

The Green Bay game shows us that he has not achieved it yet.

And future games will show us which direction he is heading, but not by themselves.

Because Stafford, as we have seen, has nothing to gain from a statement game.

When he puts up a statement season, we'll talk about building him a pedestal.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Top Five Candidates For Offensive Rookie of the Year

Tanner Thoms — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:44:20 -0500

In my opinion, the offensive rookie of the year award is one of the more prestigious awards that is given out annually. What does it take to be the offensive rookie of the year? Being a year-round phenom for your team as a first year player. The winner of last years award was Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Who will it be this year? I will be listing my top 5 candidates (in order) to see who can and will win the award at seasons end. Enjoy the show!

Begin Slideshow

Matthew Stafford's Legendary Tale Gets Rewritten by Packers

Greg Eno — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:46:16 -0500

Cinderella's coach really did turn back into a pumpkin. Hansel and Gretel got caught after all. None of the pigs got around to building a joint out of brick.

John Elway's legend is safe once again. Whoever sculpts those busts for Canton needn't rush out to procure a head shot of Matthew Stafford at his earliest convenience.

Cloud Nine just touched down. The bandwagon came to a screeching halt—after one game.

If rookie quarterbacks were stock on the New York Stock Exchange, their chart would look like an EKG readout.

On Sunday, Stafford won a game for the Lions—damaged wing and all. Real storybook stuff. Someone dared to disturb Bobby Layne's ghost over it.

Four days later, the reset button got hit, taking his progression back to the hot July days of training camp.

On Sunday, the kid threw five touchdown passes. It usually takes a Lions QB half a season to do that. On Thursday, he had a fetish of throwing to the wrong guys. Four interceptions, and it could have been more. Each one of them was a killer.

The rookie quarterback gives, and he takeths away. Within four days, sometimes.

Stafford tried to pen another chapter in the tiny legend he's trying to author as a first-year signal caller in the NFL.

His tender left shoulder was so bad after Sunday's game that the idea of him playing on Thanksgiving Day seemed folly.

The days of the short week passed, and after each one, the diagnosis was the same: doubtful. Highly.

Backup Daunte Culpepper arrived at Ford Field Thursday morning thinking he was the starter. He had taken all the reps with the first team. Stafford's left wing was still limp.

But a funny thing happened, though the humor was lost on Culpepper.

Stafford threw some footballs Thursday during warmups, and suddenly things weren't so bad. The doctors, abiding by the script, agreed that Stafford playing wouldn't cause any further damage. It was deemed to be a "pain management issue."

So Stafford is announced as the starter not long before game time, and Culpepper was probably the only person in the stadium who was disappointed with that determination.

But someone forgot to send the script over to the Green Bay Packers for their approval.

After an early hiccup—a fumbled opening kickoff that led to a Stafford-to-Calvin Johnson TD toss—the Packers regained control and jammed Stafford's next chapter into the paper shredder.

If you played a drinking game where you had to take a shot of booze whenever Troy Aikman said something like, "That's part of the development of a rookie quarterback," you'd be reading this with a hangover. But Troy's right, and he ought to know. Aikman suffered through a 1-15 season with the 1989 Cowboys, in which he went 0-11 as a starter.

I tried my hand at playing soothsayer on Monday's episode of "The Knee Jerks," the Blog Talk Radio gabfest I co-host with Big Al Beaton .

Stafford could very well, I said, go back to being the goat as soon as on Thanksgiving Day, because that's what happens with these young whippersnappers. They waddle, then they fall down sometimes.

I'm not right all that often, but I picked a helluva time to be spot on.

The loss on Thursday wasn't all on the kid, though.

Once again, the Lions' pass rushers treated the opposing quarterback as if he'd had a garlic sandwich before the game, topped with limburger.

I think I saw Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, prior to rocketing a 68-yard bomb to Donald Driver in the first quarter, have a shave and brush his teeth. Or maybe the rules were that the Lions' pass rushers had to count to 20-Mississippi, and they got stuck on 11 or 12.

Once again, the Lions were the antidote to what ailed the other team. The Packers have had trouble all season protecting Rodgers, who came into the game being sacked once for every 8.9 pass attempts. That rate was one for every 39 passing attempts on Thursday.

It wasn't just that the Lions didn't sack Rodgers; they didn't even get within shouting distance of him. They made him more comfortable in the pocket than a set of car keys.

The Lions' secondary needs all the help it can get, and it's not getting it from the front four. The pass coverage is softer than Charmin, and it's being made to look even worse because of the complete lack of pressure from the pass rushers.

So it's not all on Stafford, but there will still be afternoons where he's no help, as on Thursday, and at Seattle, and against the Rams.

All part of the development of a rookie quarterback, right?

Ha! Now you have to take a shot.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Tough To a Fault: Matthew Stafford Should Not Have Played Thursday

Ross Maghielse — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:41:36 -0500

Football is a game centered around toughness. Teammates and coaches respect it. Fans love it. Players themselves are determined to show it.

Matthew Stafford is one tough dude. He proved as much last Sunday when he willed the Lions to a comeback 38-37 win, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass with a separated AC joint.

During the game, Stafford was wired for sound and was quoted as saying, "I can throw the ball if you need me to throw the ball."

It was courageous and the type of moment that can endear a quarterback to a city. Particularly a self proclaimed blue collar town such as Detroit.

Thursday, Stafford's desire to show his toughness costs Detroit a chance to win a football game. He should not have played. Jim Schwartz said all week that Stafford was "unlikely" to play. Stafford himself sat out every practice.

Why did he start?

Was it to show he was tough? Was it for the national television audience and Detroit's fear of ultimately losing its one day in the national spotlight? Was it because the Lions coaching staff feels that Stafford at 50 percent is better than the next guy at 100 percent?

I do not know why he played.

I know that he was hurt. Everyone saw it. The Green Bay Packers exposed it. Stafford's shoulder was so injured he couldn't not step into any of his throws. Almost every pass was throw of his back foot or with him fading to one side.

All for of his interceptions were. So were the other two balls that should have easily been picked off.

By the way, the Lions lost the game 34-12. Their sixth straight loss on Thanksgiving Day.

Schwartz is clearly still wet behind the ears as an NFL head coach. But one thing that hasn't been questioned by anyone, especially not me, is his intelligence.

Thursday was a terrible lack of judgement on Schwartz's part. As a matter of fact, it was utterly incompetent. By the end of the first quarter, everyone in the stadium and watching at home should have been able to see that Stafford just wasn't right.

Duante Culpepper saw it. He was also seen in a heated argument with Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. Culpepper knows he's not the starter, but he also has enough pride to know that he's better than a quarterback with a destroyed throwing shoulder.

The Lions could have won this game. Green Bay did not play well at all. The only reason the score was close at halftime, 13-7, was because the Packers were a bad enough football team to allow it to be.

Stafford has already gotten his feet wet and experienced both success and failure in the NFL, albeit primarily failure. The guy has talent and I'm convinced he's going to be around a long time. He does not need to play another snap this season, especially if he's not 100 percent healthy.

Toughness often conflicts with intelligence. And virtually every player in the NFL is tougher than they are smart. It shouldn't be up to Stafford whether or not he feels well enough to play. The Lions as an organization need to step in and decide what's best for the franchise.

Stafford has the rest of his career to play and make a name for himself, and hopefully that career takes place entirely in Detroit. But for right now, he needs to sit.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

After Proving He's For Real, Stafford Proves He Needs Help

Thomas Knapp — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:08:34 -0500

For all the talk about Schwartz using the Thanksgiving Day game as a rallying point, the result was the same.

For all his talk about how this game meant something, the result was the same.

Here we are, Lions and NFL fans alike, on a Thanksgiving evening, after sitting through another Turkey Day stinker where the Lions were outclassed at every aspect of the game.

The final score was lopsided to begin with, and the truth is, the game wasn't nearly as close as the score suggested. It could have easily been 45-5, and really, if not for the Packers playing down the Lions for the first fifteen minutes, probably would have been.

Goodell, it's time to take Ford's toy away, and tell him he can have it back when he fields a competitive team. That's the only embarrassment left for an organization that has proven they have no shame.

Take away the Thanksgiving Game from Detroit. Let them cry and complain and threaten to take away advertisement dollars.

Call their bluff.

Throw them on some Saturday night or Thursday afternoon for their contractually obligated national game. I'm tired of watching this team lay an egg on a national holiday.

They don't deserve the honor.

Set the stipulation as such; they can regain their annual tradition once their team is 8-8.

A .500 season.

This should not be hard...which means for the Lions, they'd be back on Thanksgiving sometime after 2015.

Now, with that rant aside, it's quite amazing how Matt Stafford goes from awesome to atrocious in four days.

You could blame his performance on his still sore shoulder. But it's no accident. Two plays highlight what Stafford has to deal with.

One happens just before the end of the first half. The Lions are set up for a Hail Mary pass... or possibly another throw ten yards out of bounds.

We'll never know, because Stafford was running for his life within two seconds, and eventually sacked...from a three-man rush.

Last I checked, the Offensive Line consists of five people. Now, I'm not a statistician by trade, but five blockers on three rushers should not be terribly good odds if you're a defense looking to get into the backfield.

In fact, I place the chances that a quarterback should be sacked on a three man rush as slightly higher than my chances to score with Sofia Vergara.

Meanwhile, we have the Packers first touchdown drive, with Aaron Rogers having twelve seconds (I wish this was hyperbole) before being able to hit Donald Driver on a sixty-four yard pass play, and was never touched or hurried or flushed out of the pocket.

I know Rogers had twelve seconds because at this point in his career, Donald Driver runs about a ten second forty yard dash.

I hear the talk about how the Lions need to upgrade their cornerbacks, and this is true, but I don't care how good of a secondary you have, if you give any quarterback in the NFL that long, they are going to find a receiver and complete a pass for a big gain.

Even JaMarcus Russell.

The Lions continue to be beaten badly on the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball. Stafford hasn't changed that. Pettigrew hasn't changed that.

No Wide Receiver or Cornerback in this league or in the draft is going to change that.

Nothing will change that except a dedication to not go any further until the Lions have an offensive and defensive line that can at least hold their own.

At this point, it really doesn't matter which side they focus on first. It's going to take at least two offseasons to recycle out the waste that is currently at the point of attack.

What's sad is that much of the "talent" on the line of scrimmage isn't even of the potential talent variety.

Backus isn't getting any better. Raiola isn't getting any better. Loper is a good backup.

On the offensive line, only Cherlious really comes across as having any real potential to be better than what he is now (and even that is pushing it). Everyone else screams inconsistently mediocre.

Defensively, Turk McBride has shown flashes, as has Sammie Lee Hill. No one else has shown me anything that leads me to think more time will smooth the rough edges to their skills.

Avril...doesn't look like he cares to get better. He's just there.

Dewayne White wasn't even the consensus backup behind Simeon Rice in Tampa Bay.

Grady Jackson was done the last time he played on Thanksgiving...as a Packer.

Stafford needs help, and he needs it where it all starts. Until the Lions have a defensive line that can pressure the quarterback and an offensive line that keeps the pressure off him, these games are going to be the norm, and ones like Cleveland the exception.

There's no better time than to start now.

Martin Mayhew, take your draftboard, and scribble every name that has WR, TE, RB, CB, LB, S, P, or K off it. There should only be DL and OL names on that clipboard once you head into the war room.

Anything else is only delaying any chance to return to respectability.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Thanksgiving Special: Fantasy Football Week 12 Player Breakdowns

kevin roberts — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:13:04 -0500

If you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out this week's Start/Sit column, as well as our player rankings. For quick match-up analysis, read on for Week 12's player breakdowns:

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

QB Aaron Rodgers: Just look what Brady Quinn did last week. Enough said. *****

RB Ryan Gant: Has been running hard and has a great match-up. *****

WR Greg Jennings: Broke-out last week and should kill on Thursday. *****

WR Donald Driver: Tasty match-up, so great play. ****

WR James Jones: Could get some looks underneath. **

WR Jordy Nelson: Scored last week, so should be involved. **

TE Jermichael Finley: Has a decent role and nice match-up helps. ***

QB Matthew Stafford: Is a game-time decision and not a great match-up. **

QB Daunte Culpepper: Likely the starter, but not a good play at all. *

RB Kevin Smith: Won't go very far against solid run defense. **

WR Calvin Johnson: An iffy play, but could do some damage if he's a go. ***

WR Bryant Johnson: Should see solid targets if CJ can't go. **

TE Brandon Pettigrew: Doesn't do much, and Green Bay stuff tight ends. *

Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys

QB Bruce Gradkowski: Looked decent, but was horrible last time he played on Thanksgiving. **

RB Michael Bush: In a big RBBC, but running is Oakland's only chance. **

RB Darren McFadden: Best potential out of group, and his role is growing. ***

RB Justin Fargas: Had most carries last week, but role is uncertain. **

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: He nor no other Oakland receivers are worthy owning. *

TE Zach Miller: Value rises with Gradkowski, but ceiling still limited. ***

QB Tony Romo: Not a great threat against very stingy secondary. **

RB Marion Barber: Should pound the rock against horrible run defense. ****

RB Felix Jones: Could be active, but Barbers is getting the ball more. **

RB Tashard Choice: Ditto. **

WR Miles Austin: Has been quiet, but there's hope for a big play or two. ***

WR Roy Williams: Could see some looks, but doesn't offer a ton of optimism. **

TE Jason Witten: Might not even play, and match-up stinks. **

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

QB Eli Manning: Has looked very good the past two weeks, and Broncos are reeling. ****

RB Brandon Jacobs: Should be all by himself and Denver hasn't been stopping the run. ****

RB Ahmad Bradshaw: Out.

RB Danny Ware: Should see increased role, but how much? *

WR Steve Smith: Is a solid WR2 and could see solid production this week. ****

WR Hakeem Nicks: Very inconsistent lately, but WR3 potential is always there. **

WR Mario Manningham: Has been very involved lately, so a decent play. ***

TE Kevin Boss: Has scored four times in last three games, so worth a shot. ***

QB Kyle Orton: Giants leaky secondary could be his cure for awful stretch. ***

RB Knowshon Moreno: Giants can be run on, and he's looked solid. ***

RB Correll Buckhalter: Inconsistent role, but is facing beatable defense. **

WR Brandon Marshall: Was terrible last week, but should get back on track. ****

WR Eddie Royal: Too inconsistent to rely on. **

WR Jabar Gaffney: Ditto. *

Stay tuned for the rest of Week 12's Player Breakdowns later this week, and head over to NFLSoup.com for all of your other breaking news and fantasy needs.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Give Thanks For Early Football

Brandon Land — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:26:08 -0500

With the NFL regular season now over halfway in the books, Week 12 is upon us. It's time to give thanks for early football this week as three games on Thanksgiving Day are sure to keep you eating on your couch instead of getting the Christmas tree out of the attic, that is, unless you’re a fan of the Lions, in which you may need to put off your feast until the stomach pains subside next season (or the season after that, if necessary). What should you be watching for this week? I’ll get you started with the Thanksgiving Day action.

The Detroit Lions Cannot and Will Not Upset the Packers

Look, I understand the Lions at least looked somewhat like an NFL team this past Sunday, but many people forget they were playing the Browns. Points scored against the Browns this season might as well be points scored against your 10 year old son’s football team. The Browns are a mess, and let’s face it: the fact that they put up 37 points after putting up only 78 in the previous nine games combined.

The Lions kept the Browns from having the worst scoring average in the league. Although, not by much. Also not to be forgotten is that Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson are questionable for the game. I wouldn’t expect the team to risk their long-term future to win a (virtually) meaningless game if these guys aren’t ready to go.

The Packers, on the other hand, are a team that, for most of the season, has been dismissed due to a record that made them look worse than they really are. I fully expect them to come out and dominate the Lions.

The Thanksgiving Night Game Is Make or Break For Both Teams

The Giants and Broncos share identical 6-4 records and almost shared a 4-game losing streak (New York’s started and ended one week earlier). Each could virtually eliminate themselves from their divisional races with a loss in this one.

Denver needs to get their defense back on track and possibly score a few more points. The Chargers took the division lead from the Broncos this past Sunday, and it’s awfully tough to imagine them losing to the Chiefs this week. Denver needs a win to stay in the chase because it isn’t likely they can make the postseason without a division title.

New York ended their losing streak last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons with a big game from Eli Manning. Manning set a career high in passing yards and they’ll need much of the same again this week.

With Brandon Jacobs being injury-prone and Bradshaw already ruled out with a foot injury, the pressure falls straight on Manning and the Giants’ young corps of receivers to carry the load. A loss would drop the Giants to 6-5 and while it wouldn’t cripple them with a game left against division-rival Dallas, it sure would make the playoffs a tougher goal to reach.

The Cowboys Need to Rediscover the Middle of the Field

I’m not referring to the running game. Before the season, many were calling for the Cowboys to run the ball more. I wasn’t among the fans of this tactic for a few reasons.

First, I believe Tony Romo throws two or three bad balls a game whether he throws 15 times or 40. Turning him loose minimizes the impact of those mistakes and helps the Cowboys score points. That being said, I’m not asking for Romo to fling the ball downfield for a big play each time.

While listening to Colin Cowherd this afternoon, he brought up a great point that I’ve felt for awhile, but never really pulled any numbers to back it up. Colin pointed out that quarterbacks in the league with the highest passer rating on passes of 10 yards or less have their teams in position for the postseason. Examples of such quarterbacks were Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and a few others.

Romo didn’t even crack the top 12 in this category.

With Jason Witten looking slower and slower this season (and now hampered by an ankle injury), the middle of the field which was almost exclusively his in previous years is non-existent. While the team has been able to pound the ball up the middle, most of the yardage hasn’t resulted in points.

We’ve often heard how explosive Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett would be in the passing game, but to this point, no proof has been rendered. The Cowboys don’t often send their receivers into quick slant routes, and to me, Jason Garrett has forgotten about these types of plays altogether.

Running the ball is nice, but the best teams have to be able to go pass-heavy at times as well. Don’t believe me? Take a look at most of the division leaders. I’d be willing to bet most of them are able to rely on the passing game just as much, if not more, than the running game.

The defense, while it has played admirably as of late, uses Wade Phillips’ bend-but-don’t-break style that relies on the offense scoring some points to be effective. The premise is that if a team is playing from behind, you can basically give them what yardage you feel like and eventually they run out of time to come back. The problem is that it doesn’t work if your offense doesn’t score points.

So which is easier? Throwing in a few extra plays on offense, or changing entire defensive schemes?

All things considered, I just can’t see the Cowboys losing to the Raiders on Thursday. Although they’ve proven anything is reasonably possible, I don’t think the Raiders have anything in the tank to score and play defense in an effective manner.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore Could Be a Playoff Game

It isn’t even December yet, but a lot rides on the game between the Steelers and Ravens. Only a game separates the two, and Baltimore lost their games in very close fashion. Pittsburgh faces the dilemma of playing Ben Roethlisberger after a concussion.

Oh, and did I mention they lost to the Chiefs? It’s only one game, but Troy Polamalu means the world to that Pittsburgh defense. Besides Polamalu, the unit is banged up anyway, and Joe Flacco could make them look pretty pedestrian without, arguably, the league’s top safety roaming the defensive backfield.

The Ravens will look to pressure Roethlisberger all game, but the key will be bringing him down. Ben has proven he can evade pressure, but if the Ravens can bring him down during this game, they’ll be right back into the playoff picture, and really, it isn’t too outrageous since they’re possibly the best 5-5 team the NFL has seen in some time.

The Saints Will Be Tested Against the Patriots

The Patriots still have Tom Brady, and you can bet he wants to do everything in his power to keep his 2007 Patriots as the only 16-0 regular season team in history. With the way he’s found Wes Welker as of late, every connection with Randy Moss is just an added bonus.

While the play of the Saints defense this season has been admirable thus far, I think this could finally be the week they go down. I can guarantee one thing: if the game is in the balance late, don’t expect Bill Belichick to go for it on 4th-and-2.

Brandon Land is the founder and lead columnist of View from the Bench Sports, which can be found at www.viewfromthebench.com.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

QBER/Week 11: Numbers Say MVP Award Is Favre-Fetched Idea

Paul Ladewski — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:25:56 -0500

(QBER is short for Quarterback Efficiency Rating, a more comprehensive, easily understood rating system that I devised to place the emphasis where it belongs—on the ability of a quarterback to advance the ball, avoid negative plays, and score touchdowns in comparison to his peers. A rating of 100.0 is the league average.)

It’s too a bit too early for apologies, but the critics who wrote off Brett Favre months ago should be advised to have their my-bad's ready.

Not only is Favre the top-ranked quarterback in the league, according to the most recent QBER calculations, but the longer the season progresses, the better he has been. At a time when 40-year-olds are supposed to slow down, his QBER has improved from 125.1 to 138.1 to 138.5 to 141.6 to 148.2 in the last four weeks.

Can you say Most Valuable Player, boys and girls?

There are several worthy candidates for MVP honors, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning also among them, but Favre should rate as the early favorite for the award. Even though feature Adrian Peterson has been fairly average by his standards, the Vikings own a 9-1 record largely because Favre has stepped up as a highly efficient quarterback and unquestioned team leader.

What stands out about Favre is his ability to avoid negative plays, which is in stark contrast to the later stages of his Green Bay Packers career. In 334 pass plays, he has been guilty of only four turnovers, the best rate in the league. He also accounts for one touchdown per 15.9 pass attempts, which is 75 percent above the league average.

It was in Week 14 of a year ago that Favre began his free-fall because of shoulder problems. His detractors may not like it, but a rerun doesn’t appear to be likely this time around.

The QBER Leaders Through Week Eleven of the Regular Season:

1. Brett Favre 148.2

2. Peyton Manning 134.6

3. Donovan McNabb 130.0

4. Aaron Rodgers 129.3

5. Drew Brees 128.3

6. Tom Brady 127.6

7. Philip Rivers 127.5

8. Matt Schaub 125.3

9. Eli Manning 119.0

10. Kurt Warner 114.5

11. Kyle Orton 114.2

12. Tony Romo 112.4

13. Joe Flacco 110.5

14. Carson Palmer 109.7

15. Ben Roethlisberger 106.6

16. Matt Hasselbeck 104.0

17. Matt Ryan 101.5

18. Matt Cassel 101.4

19. David Garrard 90.0

20. Chad Henne 87.2

21. Jay Cutler 85.8

22. Marc Bulger 82.3

23. Jason Campbell 81.6

24. Matthew Stafford 80.5

25. Trent Edwards 79.3

26. Kerry Collins 78.4

27. Mark Sanchez 59.6

28. Jake Delhomme 57.2

29. JaMarcus Russell 50.1

A Few Observations

If Vince Young isn’t a big fan of the QBER system, then he should be. According the NFL passer rating formula, the Tennessee Titans signal-caller would rank 17th overall if he had the required number of pass attempts—two spots worse than he would on be on the QBER list. The QBER formula credits Young for the 147 yards that he gained on runs off pass plays, while the NFL system ignores them. The Titans haven’t lost since Young regained his starter role, and his improved play has been a primary reason for the turnaround.
Maybe Pete Carroll was right, after all. The Southern California head coach said Mark Sanchez would have been better suited to remain in college one more year, and the numbers support his contention. The New York Jets' rookie has been plagued by turnovers—19 of them. Only Jay Cutler has as many in the league.
While Sanchez has regressed, Detroit Lions rookie Matthew Stafford has headed the other way. His QBER jumped from 58.7 (28th overall) to a semi-respectable 80.5 (24th) in that span. It should be noted that he played against the Cleveland Browns last week.
The play of Philadelphia Eagles veteran Donovan McNabb may be as consistent as any point in his career. His QBER ranking in each of the last six weeks: fourth, fourth, second, third, third, and third.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers earned the Mr. Clean Award last week. In 22 pass plays, he did not have a scramble, sack, fumble, or interception.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Predictions: Week Twelve

Doug Rush — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:41 -0500

It's Week Twelve of the NFL season, and it's also Thanksgiving week.

In the past years, there has always been two games on this holiday, which usually were just the Lions at home against their opponent and the Cowboys and their opponent, which is fine because it is tradition, but lately, those games haven't been as great, so the league added a third game at night on the NFL Network, which generally has been a better game of the day.

So if you are at your family's house and you don't like your relatives, or if you do and are looking for something to do aside from eating turkey and turkey sandwiches, there is football all Thanksgiving day long.

Last week in Week Eleven, I had a great week going 14-2 with the only losses coming from the Steelers and Bengals. Overall in the 2009 season, I am 114-45 and looking to continue the good record.

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

These two teams have met in the past on Thanksgiving, two years ago in fact. Brett Favre and Jon Kitna were the respective quarterbacks for those teams.

Now it's Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford starting for their teams and looking to continue the tradition.

However, Stafford got hurt last week and his status for the game is unknown, so Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton might be playing on this night.

But it doesn't matter, because the Packers are on a roll and possibly could be a playoff team. Rodgers has the Packers headed in the right direction with multiple 300-plus yard games.

With a banged up team, the Lions might not be able to stand up to the Packers and this one could be over quickly.

Final Score: Packers 37, Lions 20

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys

Be careful with this game, because it might not be as lopsided as it looks.

The Raiders finally benched JaMarcus Russell for Bruce Gradkowski and they won their last game and will look to make it two in a row with a quarterback that seems to care about playing and winning, something Russell never showed.

The Cowboys are coming in this game extremely banged up. Tony Romo's got a bad back and Jason Witten has a bad foot and both are listed as questionable, although most expect Romo to play, but not so much with Witten.

Over their last two games, Dallas has only scored a total of 14 points and nearly lost their last game. If they only score seven points again, they might not get away with another win.

Dallas usually plays well on Turkey Day and they should be able to pull a win off.

Final Score: Cowboys 24, Raiders 14

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: New York Giants @ Denver Broncos

This one will be on the NFL Network, but for most in the New York/New Jersey area like I am, if you don't have that channel, it will be played on WPIX-11, so it will be on TV locally.

The Broncos have lost four in a row and are sliding bad. They are also fighting among each other and Brandon Marshall seems to be going back to his selfish and destructive ways, fighting with teammates and blaming others for losing when he isn't getting the ball.

The Giants ended their losing streak with a huge win last week and are looking to get back into the playoff race. Denver is having trouble stopping everyone, so this may be a game where Brandon Jacobs can run over players and with Ahmad Bradshaw likely out, Danny Ware will get some playing time.

This will also be Eli Manning's first game on Thanksgiving. Manning should have no problems getting the Giants to win on the road despite the short week.

Final Score: Giants 30, Broncos 13

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets

It seems so long ago when the Jets were 3-0 and Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez were living large.

Now at 4-6, it's not the case anymore. Ryan's been humbled some in his rookie season as head coach, but Sanchez has not, he still thinks he's the USC god back in California. If he keeps throwing all those interceptions, he might find himself on the bench real soon.

The Panthers have been up and down all 2009 season.

They get so close to getting to .500 and then they will lose a game and stay under .500, which must be frustrating for John Fox.

You would think the Jets would have the advantage being at home against a losing team, but they lost games to the Jaguars, Bills and Dolphins at home, so the Jets aren't guaranteed to win.

This one I think will come down to a late field goal, and I don't trust the Jets anymore.

Final Score: Panthers 24, Jets 21

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

If you're a betting person, never, ever bet against Peyton Manning, because he finds ways to win.

Just like last week when the Colts somehow managed to win and get to 10-0 in another close game.

But the tough games on the road don't stop for the Colts, as they take on an opponent from the AFC South division.

The Texans lost their last home game on Monday night with a missed field goal and was devastating to take. Houston will be looking to get over that loss and come out strong against their division foes.

Houston always plays the Colts well, as they did earlier in the season. But like I said before, never pick against the Colts, and neither will I again this week.

Final Score: Colts 28, Texans 20

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Redskins are trying everything they can to win games, and came close against the Cowboys, but fell short.

Washington has a good defense, which has kept them in a lot of games, but their offense is dreadful. With Clinton Portis out again and with Chris Cooley done for the season, it gets worse for Washington in 2009.

The Eagles snapped their two game losing streak and got back on track. DeSean Jackson is becoming a dangerous weapon downfield for the Eagles and it almost seems like he is un-coverable because of his speed.

Most shouldn't count on Brian Westbrook playing in this game due to his severe concussions. Some don't even expect Westbrook back in 2009, which would be a shame.

Washington has yet to win a game on the road, and nobody expects them to win this week either.

Final Score: Eagles 27, Redskins 9

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams

I'm not going to lie to you guys, this game is not exactly a great one. Both teams stink.

The only problem is, Seattle isn't supposed to be this bad. They have Matt Hasselbeck healthy, but even he can only do so much.

The running game isn't great. The passing game is mediocre. The defense has been bad.

But, they are playing a 1-9 team who is even worse.

St. Louis will be without Marc Bulger, who has several injuries. But even with him Bulger has been awful in 2009.

If you're not a diehard fan of either team, I wouldn't suggest watching. But Seattle is a little better and should be able to win this game.

Final Score: Seahawks 20, Rams 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

This is a battle between NFC South rivals, but it won't have the same intensity like it has in the past.

Tampa is 1-9 and they keep on trying to get better. They think they found their quarterback in rookie Josh Freeman, but he's taking his rookie pains in a tough season.

The Falcons suffered a tough loss last week and dropped to 5-5 in the NFC playoff race, despite sending the game into overtime.

Atlanta is a better team at home and needs to get back on track with a win. With or without Michael Turner, the Falcons still have weapons to use.

This one might be on Matt Ryan, and he should be able to win against Tampa this week.

Final Score: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 13

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

This is the second meeting of the Ohio battle.

Cleveland came so close to their second win, but because they are the Browns, found a way to lose another game despite scoring over 30 points.

Brady Quinn played much better last week, so maybe he's not a total bust.

The Bengals lost to the Raiders last week. Not good. They need this division matchup to win all six games of the AFC North division match games.

Cedric Benson was out last week and is listed as questionable, but Bernard Scott has done a great job in Benson's place.

Cleveland sucks and Cincinnati is possibly playoff bound. Guess who wins here?

Final Score: Bengals 30, Browns 10

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

Whoever said the Dolphins were dead in 2009 might be wrong, because at 5-5, they have a shot to make something of their season.

They lost Ronnie Brown for the season, but Ricky Williams is showing he's got plenty left for Miami.

Chad Henne is improving each week and showing everyone he deserves to be the starter. However, with Miami's Wildcat formation, expect Pat White to play because of Brown's injury.

Buffalo finally got the ball to Terrell Owens last week, as he almost had 200 yards receiving, and yet, the Bills lost.

Buffalo is not the team they once were that dominated the AFC 10-15 years ago. Even Bill Cowher turned down an offer to interview for their coaching vacancy.

Final Score: Dolphins 24, Bills 16

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers

This game means a lot more for the Jaguars than it does for the 49ers, because a win for Jacksonville and they find themselves right in the mix for the AFC playoff race.

After an up and down season, the Jaguars are winning, and they've put their faith solely in Maurice Jones-Drew, who has carried this team in 2009.

Jones-Drew has been nothing short of MVP-like in 2009 and has been the reason why the Jaguars are winning and at 6-4 right now.

The 49ers are still trying to find an identity, but they are at least making their games competitive, especially with Michael Crabtree active and playing very well.

With Crabtree, it has given Alex Smith a second chance to be the leader of this team, along with another target to throw to aside from Vernon Davis.

But, Jacksonville needs this game more and are riding a three game winning streak to continue their chase for postseason football.

Final Score: Jaguars 28, 49ers 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs somehow managed to knock off the defending champion Steelers at home in overtime, which is a huge accomplishment for a team that hasn't been great in 2009.

But that was at home, and they're back on the road, where they aren't a great football team.

Even worse, they are playing the Chargers, who are on a five game winning streak and are getting back to playing solid football.

LaDanian Tomlinson has become a big part of the offense again and showing the league that he isn't washed up, and since the Chiefs can't stop the run, LT might have another decent game.

The Chargers have control of the AFC West and are at home. San Diego should have no problems winning this game.

Final Score: Chargers 34, Chiefs 17

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

Because of the Titans playing better football, it makes this game a decent contest to watch.

Arizona is starting to become a more complete team after being only known as a passing team in 2008.

They are running the football more with Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower and the defense is stepping up and playing much better.

So with those two factors added in with the powerful offense of Arizona, that makes them scary to stop. The only question is, does Kurt Warner play with the concussion or does Matt Leinart get a start?

Tennessee has won four in a row and they can thank that on the magnificent play of Chris Johnson, who is leading the league in rushing yards.

Vince Young is playing well too and deserving of a second chance as a starter.

As much as Tennessee has played well, Arizona's offense might be too much for the Titans defense to stop.

Final Score: Cardinals 38, Titans 24

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

So, Jay Cutler was supposed to be the savior for the Bears in 2009, right?

Only problem is Cutler is throwing way too many interceptions in games and costing them chances to win.

On the other side, the Vikings have been one of the best teams in 2009 and one of the most complete teams.

Their offense lead by Brett Favre has been solid, but their defense lead by Jared Allen is the best in the NFL.

Lately, Cutler's confidence has been lacking each week. With a defense like Minnesota that swarms the quarterback, Cutler will be in for a long day in the Metrodome.

Minnesota is so much better than Chicago and should have no problems going to 10-1.

Final Score: Vikings 34, Bears 16

Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

This is a re-match of the AFC Championship game and another meeting of the AFC North rivals.

In 2008, the Steelers won both regular season games and the AFC Title game on their road to winning the Super Bowl.

The Steelers have been very banged up. Troy Polamalu is questionable with an injured knee. Pittsburgh's defense needs Polamalu back if they want to end their two game slide. Ben Roethlisberger also suffered a concussion last week, but is expected to play.

The Ravens once started out 3-0, but are 2-5 over their last several games and don't look like the same AFC powerhouse on defense that used to scare teams because they have lost too many games in 2009.

With Roethlisberger, the Steelers should be able to pull off a victory in Baltimore, but it won't be easy and could come down to a late score.

Final Score: Steelers 27, Ravens 24

Monday Night Football: New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

This very well may be the best game on the schedule. If you like offensive games with a lot of points, this game is for you. If you like defense, don't expect it here, because this one will light up the boards.

The Patriots have been playing much better football and have gotten the passing game going with Tom Brady. With Wes Welker healthy and combine him with Randy Moss, Brady is back to being his old self.

The Saints are 10-0 and steam-rolling through the NFC. They have blown out teams and they have also shown they can come back from being down in games, a good quality of a playoff team.

Drew Brees has done a great job in making his wide receivers have tremendous seasons in 2009, especially Marques Colston, maybe the most underrated top receiver in the NFL.

In the past, the Patriots defense could stop New Orleans. Not anymore. They give up too many points, which in the end favors Brees and company. But this one will be worth watching and enjoying.

Final Score: Saints 42, Patriots 35

That does it for the schedule and picks for Week Twelve of the NFL season.

Everyone, from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your holiday and time with your family and loved ones. Also, for those who do Black Friday shopping, be safe over the weekend and during that crazy time.

See you back this weekend for more exciting NFL football games that start on the holiday.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

What the Detroit Lions Need To Do to Help Matthew Stafford in 2010

Seattle Lion Fan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:53:57 -0500

After watching the highlights of the Lions-Browns game, I am even more impressed with the way Matthew Stafford has blossomed into an NFL quarterback. He has the potential to become the best Lions quarterback since Bobby Layne.

His tough as nails bravado in avoiding the trainers during Cleveland’s ill-advised timeout at the end of the game is the stuff legends are made of.

However one thinks the offense performed last week, there still is a ton of work that needs to be done in order to make the Lions a contending football team. But what the Cleveland game showed was the potential of how good the Lions could be.

I have written many columns, posts, and comments stating my feelings on which side of the ball the Lions need to concentrate in the upcoming draft. I generally ignore the free agent market since the Lions have never really had good luck with free agents.

But I am convinced that taking an elite left tackle and moving Jeff Backus inside to left guard will give the Lions a very solid offensive line, one that will allow a running game to develop as well as protect Matthew Stafford.

Last week’s game did open my eyes to the many deficiencies Detroit has on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions only got one sack on Brady Quinn and zero turnovers while giving up 439 total yards. Granted, Cleveland’s defense wasn’t much better as they gave up 473 total yards and got only one sack on Stafford, but they also got two interceptions.

How on earth did Brady Quinn do so well in this game? Up until the Detroit game, he had never thrown for more than 239 yards or more than two touchdowns in a game. And here he lights up the Lions defense for 304 yards and four TDs.

So what to do? I’m sure that many fans out there that want Martin Mayhew to trade away the No. 1 pick for multiple picks in later rounds. The Lions just might finish 3-13 this year if they can luck their way into one more win. Their best shot could be Thanksgiving Day against the Packers. If Stafford and Calvin Johnson can play well and the team can carry the momentum from the Browns game, they just might win on Thanksgiving for the first time since they beat the Packers back in 2003 with a score of 22-13.

After that, their best shots for securing a win are against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 27th or at home against the Chicago Bears Jan. 3rd.

With three wins, I figure the Lions to be somewhere between the fourth and eighth pick for the 2010 draft. That's still a good position to draft an elite left tackle, and the Lions should have a shot at picking one of these three:

(I did all of my research at www.walterfootball.com )

Bruce Campbell, Maryland — 6'7", 310 lbs. A dominate player who could be the first left tackle taken. However, teams might shy away from his history of minor injuries, with his most recent being a possible MCR tear from beating Clemson 24-21. The Lions would do well to check into just how "minor" these injuries have been.

Bryan Bulanga, Iowa — 6'6", 312 lbs . A very athletic left tackle from a program known for producing high quality offensive linemen. That alone should tell you that he would have superior footwork over Jeff Backus. He did miss three games this year, but that was due to an undisclosed illness rather than an injury.

Ciron Black, LSU — 6'5", 320 lbs . Walter Football has him going early in the second round, but he could possibly be the fourth left tackle to be taken in the first round. He’s started all 39 games for LSU and, for his size, he is a tremendous athlete.

Besides the Lions, Seattle, San Francisco, and Green Bay all need a left tackle. Walter Football has the Lions going after Russell Okung out of Oklahoma State. However, since he’s played right tackle for most of his college career, the Lions don’t have the time for him to make the adjustment.

In the second and third rounds, the Lions need to concentrate solely on defense. There have been cases made for getting a shutdown corner or a pass rushing defensive end, but the most glaring need is inside at defensive tackle. Ndamukong Suh is an absolute stud, but even if the Lions had him targeted in the first round, there is little chance they would get him. Tampa Bay is playing out the string and will more than likely have the first pick in the draft that they will use to take Suh.

The Lions should target one of these three defensive tackles:

Vince Oghonaase, Duke — 6'6", 310 lbs. He is not just 310 lbs of fat sitting in the middle. He made 51 tackles, nine of those for losses, and had six sacks as a junior. His body fat percentage is low and he’s more than a simple huge run-stuffer.

Boo Robinson, Wake Forest — 6'2", 326 lbs . More of a nose tackle, I’m not sure how well Robinson would fit in Detroit’s 4-3 defense, but a player of this size and ability is hard to ignore. He could be key to improving the Lions run defense.

Arthur Jones, Syracuse — 6'4", 294 lbs. A tad light at defensive tackle for my taste, but it’s hard to ignore his 60 tackles (13 of them for losses) and 3.5 sacks. In 2008, he had an impressive 17.5 tackles for loss, so that tells you that he has a motor that just won’t quit.

In the third round, Detroit should seek that shutdown corner to help safety Louis Delmas in the secondary. I would like to see the Lions go after a CB with some height to match up against the bigger and stronger wide receivers.

Kyle Wilson, Boise State — 5'10", 187 lbs . He broke up 10 passes and intercepted five more. A big plus for him is his return game, as he scored three times on punt returns and averaged 14.2 yards per return.

Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech — 5'11", 186 lbs . A player that can be all over the field, he tallied 43 tackles, six interceptions, and four broken up passes. Virgil can be a difference maker as he showed in Virginia Tech's game against Nebraska where he returned a fumble for a touchdown, blocked an extra point and returned it to score two points, and blocked a punt for a safety for another two points.

Walter Thurmond, Oregon — 6'0", 185 lbs. Thurmond played through injures in 2009 and despite that, he still had 66 tackles, five interceptions, and eight passes broken up. If he can heal, he could be a steal for the Lions in round three.

In the fourth round, the Lions need to get some help for Kevin Smith at running back. Aaron Brown might be the answer here, but he’s played sporadically. I’d like to see him get some more playing time. Detroit will need to add depth, and I see one player that could be a spark in certain situations:

Noel Devine, West Virginia — 5'8", 175 lbs . Devine is small, but he's fast. He’s averaged 6.2 yards per carry as well as 8.2 yards per catch coming out of the backfield. He’s viewed as a Darren Sproles type of player, and at 5'8", a defense could lose sight of him very easily. He’s also capable of returning kicks, which is another area that the Lions desperately need help.

As for picks in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds, Detroit should focus on the best available athlete regardless of the position being played. I’d even like to see them go for a wide receiver to complement Calvin Johnson. Bryant Johnson and Dennis Northcutt haven’t impressed me in their attempts to take any heat off CJ. Brandon Pettigrew has improved every week, and catching the winning touchdown pass from Stafford last week has to make him feel as though he can be a big-time tight end.

Demaryius Thomas out of Georgia Tech wouldn’t be a bad pick. At 6'3", 229 lbs, he runs a slow 40 (4.60), but he’s a monster target that caught 24 balls for 536 yards and three TDs in five games. If wide receiver coach Shawn Jefferson can hone his route running abilities, the Lions could have a diamond in the rough with Thomas.

Another route to take would be to pick a true return specialist if the Lions stay with defense in the fourth round. They could look at LSU’s Trindon Holliday, who will be the fastest player at the combine. Clocked at 4.25, teams are going to have to hurry to catch this guy. But at 5'5" and 161 lbs., he won’t be of use anywhere else except as a kick returner.

I have to believe the Lions aren’t that far away. If they can get that big left tackle and move Backus inside, they will have a fairly impressive offensive line with only one used draft pick. There are some that will be concerned that too much money will be tied up on one side of the ball, but in this case, I think it would be justified.

For years, the Lions have been attempting to create a contending football team with duct tape, chicken wire, and spackle, and it just hasn’t worked. They must commit to building from the draft and I firmly believe the direction I have laid out will get Detroit to contend for the NFC North title in 2010.

Call me crazy, but I think it can be done.

Salud!

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Stafford and Lions, Young and Titans: What We Learned from NFL Week 11

The Sportmeisters — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:16:36 -0500

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

The home stretch is near! Who’s gunning for the playoffs, and who’s gunning for a good draft spot?

The Best Game No One Watched

It was a “family and friends” game, meaning, only family and friends would watch Cleveland face off against Detroit in the race for the No. 1 pick. Well, it became a game full of energy, comebacks, and a game-winning drive, as the Lions edged the Browns 38-37.

Cleveland took a huge 24-3 lead to start the game, showing an offensive firepower sorely missed the first 10 weeks of the season. Detroit, led by rookie QB Matt Stafford, climbed back, until Cleveland QB Brady Quinn led a scoring drive to make it 37-31 with under five minutes to go.

Enter Stafford, who got the team to midfield before launching a Hail Mary with less than 10 seconds to go, which was intercepted and ended the game.

BUT WAIT!

A pass interference call let Detroit have one final untimed play, where a now-injured Stafford found fellow rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew for the 38-37 win.

They say it takes one play in one game to turn a team around. For Detroit, that might have been the turning point, even with Stafford unlikely to play this week against Green Bay. The Browns can take some positive in the offense that showed up, but are miles away from any signs of competitiveness.

A Bucked Bronco

A month ago, the Denver Broncos, despite all their offseason turmoil, were 6-0 and kings of the AFC West. They held a 3-and-a-half game lead over the Sand Diego Chargers. Now, as we move to Week 12, the San Diego Chargers hold a one-game lead over Denver, thanks to a five-game winning streak that culminated in a 32-3 drubbing of the Broncos on Sunday.

It was just another case of two teams changing since Denver won the first matchup.

San Diego seems to be on all cylinders, with QB Philip Rivers managing the offense, and even RB LaDainian Tomlinson having a solid performance (20 carries, 73 yards, touchdown).

Denver is falling apart at the wrong time, and three turnovers and nine penalties don’t make it any easier. The Broncos have an early game this week against the NY Giants, and have to get back on track now, or risk watching the season end before their very eyes.

Remember The Titans

I usually write this on a Monday, but due to scheduling conflicts, I got to take in the Monday night game and add it to my recaps. I picked a good week to have a scheduling conflict, as behind 151 rushing yards from Chris Johnson and 189 all-purpose yards from Vince Young, the Titans squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans.

The Titans, who were the source of ridicule a year removed from 13-3, have now won four straight, and while they are still a ways away from any playoff talk, now seem like they are on the right track.

Using the same method that worked last year (punishing running game, dominant defense), they no longer seem in over their heads. Against Houston, they had 228 rushing yards, and the defense had four sacks, and held Houston to 57 rushing yards.

Tennessee is clawing back, slowly but surely.

Contenders and Pretenders

The playoff picture is getting clearer, so who is in the snapshot?

The New Orleans Saints, after a few weeks of questionable football, quieted the critics with a complete performance in a 38-7 drubbing of Tampa Bay. The Saints take their perfect record against New England on Monday Night Football this coming week.

What does a 4-2 record over the last six weeks get you? For the Miami Dolphins, it’s some playoff chatter, as last years AFC East Champions beat the Carolina Panthers to get back to .500. RB Ricky Williams had three touchdowns in place of injured RB Ronnie Brown.

The Indianapolis Colts are making it happen, squeaking out another close victory, this time against the Baltimore Ravens 17-15. The Colts ran their record to 10-0, their eighth straight 10-win season, and have won 19 regular season games in a row, second only to the New England Patriots (21 wins from 2006-2008).

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

Bills coach Dick Jauron was given the boot, hoping to spark something in Buffalo. Despite Terrell Owens showing up for the first time all season, the Bills still lose, 18-15 to Jacksonville. The Bills are now 3-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are defending Super Bowl champions, but they’re not playing like it. They lost their second straight game, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in overtime. They are fighting injuries, which is a contributing factor, but they need to get their act together if a repeat Super Bowl appearance is in the cards.

After starting 4-1, the Atlanta Falcons have taken a nosedive, with their latest, a 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants, running their record to 5-5.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Matthew Stafford's Finest Moment Temporarily Overshadows Lions Woes

Ross Maghielse — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:46:02 -0500

What happened at Ford Field last Sunday was terrific. Other than the end result of the Detroit Lions winning a football game, there was the “coming out party” of hopeful franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford threw for 422 yards and an NFL rookie record five touchdowns. More importantly, he led the Lions on a game-winning touchdown drive with less than two minutes on the clock. His game-winning touchdown pass, with a separated shoulder mind you, to fellow rookie Brandon Pettigrew allowed the Lions to come all the way back from a 24-3 deficit and defeat the Cleveland Browns 38-37.

Wait...the Lions were down 24-3 to the Cleveland Browns? Yes, yes they were.

This is not about being negative or an attempt to deflate Detroit’s momentary balloon of hot-air pride, but facts are facts. Being a 2-8 football team should not be celebrated, even if it does come after a 0-16 season the year before.

Coming into the game against Detroit, the Browns averaged just nine points per game, and had scored only five offensive touchdowns all season. Brady Quinn had just one touchdown pass on the year—he threw four against the Lions on Sunday.

Until the Lions defense stops impersonating a bunch of blind kids playing capture the flag, this team will not and cannot be successful.

Sports fans are collectively a short-minded bunch. The some 30,000 Lions fans in attendance at Ford Field on Sunday that were cheering, high-fiving, and celebrating a win over the NFL’s new worst team will likely be booing at some point this Thursday.

Go ahead, stand up and boo. If anything, it would only be good for this franchise. People in Detroit should not celebrate being better than the bottom. It should be expected, it should be demanded.

But it’s not. It has never been. Not with the Lions at least.

Remember when Mary Mornhinweg had a bucket of Gatorade poured over him after winning his first game as an NFL coach? I believe the Lions were 1-13 at that point. Or when Rod Marinelli gave his team an extra two days off because it beat Denver 42-6 and improved to 6-2, with eight games still left in the season? Even when Jim Schwartz sent the team back out on to the field to “celebrate” the Lions first win of the season against Washington with the fans in attendance, was that really something to celebrate?

I say no, heck no. Success should be celebrated, but stealing wins from teams just terrible enough to let you get away with it should not be.

Take a minute to think about why the Detroit Pistons have been so successful this decade. They have been as consistent as any team in the NBA. Why? Because heads roll if excellence is not accomplished. Losing is not tolerated, and mediocrity is unacceptable.

That mindset is not shared with the Detroit Lions organization, or the fans that support it. Random moments of Silverdome success were enough in the '80s. Barry Sanders provided enough excitement in the '90s. Newly constructed Ford Field and the promise of a “change in direction” sparked enough excitement in first part of this decade. But no truly positive results have ever come.

Other than Stafford’s play and toughness at the end of the game, the only other positive that can be taken away from this game was the leadership of Schwartz.

He was excited after the game, and rightfully so, but he was by no means celebratory. He downplayed the game as merely, “just one win” and cautioned the media to “not make too big of deal out of it.” In his Monday press conference, he looked like a coach with a 2-8 team. Not a coach still giddy about a recent victory.

That was the first sign of true leadership I have seen from Schwartz and his statements could not be more correct.

If the Lions win again on Thursday, that will be a sign of some slight progress taking place. Feel free to cheer for the moment and show some excitement. But if they lose, please, stand up and boo. This franchise will only get better when the City of Detroit demands that it does so.

While this past Sunday was a terrific moment, it was also a terrible reminder.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Football Injury Update: The Opportunity Maker/Taker

kevin roberts — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:03:18 -0500

This article takes a close look at the effect of injuries on the players that sustain them, as well as the supporting cast around them.

Take a look at the key injuries affecting several teams for Week 12 :

Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis Rams

Bulger has sustained his second injury of the season, but this it's time one that will keep him out for up to a month and possibly the entire season .

Bulger has a broken tibia, and, considering his timetable is a very friendly three to six weeks, he's likely to go on IR.

The Good:

This means the Rams will likely pound the rock even more with Steven Jackson, and it also means that rookie Keith Null (QB) could get a crack at proving himself if Kyle Boller struggles (he will).

The Bad:

The increased role for Jackson will be welcomed by all fantasy owners, but we can't say the same for the increased focus defense will have on stopping S-Jax. Without a competent quarterback (not that Bulger was amazing) keeping the offense balanced, there is the real possibility that Jackson struggles down the stretch.

The Rams receivers who have very minimal value as is—Donnie Avery, Brandon Gibson, and Danny Amendola—will almost certainly see their production take a hit.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

There's nothing official, but reports are already coming out of Detroit that Stafford will not be able to make Thursday's Thanksgiving match against the Green Bay Packers.

The rookie quarterback has a minor injury to his non-throwing shoulder, but he is in enough pain to possibly keep him out of Week 12's action.

The Good:

Daunte Culpepper makes his third start of the year, and, judging by his awful results, that is almost solely good for his ego and nothing else.

However, Calvin Johnson is back in top form (but also dealing with injuries ), and, with the Packers losing both OLD Aaron Kampman and star CB Al Harris for the season, the Green Bay defense won't be at full force. Culpepper is a sketchy play regardless, but Megatron still carries loads of potential in this matchup.

The Bad:

The Packers already do a solid job of stopping the run, and, even without Kampman and Harris, will likely be able to key-in on Kevin Smith and co. with Culpepper struggling.

Culpepper knows the Packers and he could shine with Green Bay's secondary banged-up, but we wouldn't bet on it, especially with him preparing in a short week.

Ladell Betts/Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins

Betts is out for the season with torn knee ligaments, and Portis has already been ruled out for the third straight week.

This leaves Rock Cartwright and whomever (if anyone) the Redskins decide to pick-up off the street. Where's that Larry Johnson when you need him?

The Good:

Cartwright becomes an actual decent flex play and borderline RB2 for the first time in his career, while Jason Campbell and Santana Moss will likely be leaned on even more than usual with a lack of experience and depth in their running game.

The Bad:

If Washington can't find the right balance on offense, they'll inevitably be lost and ineffective against a solid Philadelphia Eagles defense. The Eagles would be the favorites, even if the Redskins had Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley healthy. It could be ugly.

Fabian Washington, CB, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens second cornerback sustained an ACL injury and is lost for the remainder of the 2009 season, killing the already weak depth Baltimore's secondary had.

Add his name to the list, along with Terrell Suggs from last week, and this Ravens' defense (and team) is officially falling apart .

The Good:

The only good thing about this is that the Ravens have a solid rookie prospect in Lardarius Webb, but even his promise and stellar play in spot duty will likely be cancelled out by the depth hit this gives the secondary.

The Bad:

For Baltimore, this probably means even worse pass defense, which in turn won't do their run defense any favors. This means great things for the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive players in Week 12, and if Ben Roethlisberger is fully healthy (he's expected to be), you can expect something to the tune of his 380+ yards last week.

For more breaking news, injury updates, and fantasy advice, go here .

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

The Anointing of Matthew Stafford: Detroit's Quarterback Is Here to Stay

Keith Shelton — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:51:19 -0500

In one game—in one instant, really—Matthew Stafford won over the hearts of Detroit.

In possibly the most insane game I have ever witnessed as a Lions fan, the Detroit Lions found their quarterback.

This is huge.

You might now be writing me off as a delusional Lions fan raving about a meaningless game between 1-8 teams, but I assure you, I am anything but.

I long ago severed any emotional attachment to the Lions, watching now only as an observer, indifferent to the flood of losses. Indifferent even to the victory over Washington earlier this season that broke the 19-game losing streak.

How do I know something magical happened last Sunday? Because I felt something. I felt excitement and outright stupid joy when, with zero seconds left on the clock, Matthew Stafford, who I was sure had a separated shoulder, fought off team doctors, trudged back out onto the field, and delivered the game-winning touchdown to complete the greatest comeback in Lions history.

I have seen just one quarterback ever do something like that before, and his name is Brett Favre.

This kid has heart, and lots of it.

This one magical play was so important because up until this game, Matthew Stafford was just another Joey Harrington to many Lions fans. A high-priced draft pick that had accomplished nothing but turning the ball over and not finding his star receiver.

Joey Harrington he is not. Did Harrington ever lead a fourth-quarter comeback? Would Harrington fight off team trainers and throw a clutch-as-they-come touchdown pass in writhing pain?

Stafford embodied the spirit of Detroit in that one play. Hard work, never say die attitude, and playing through pain. That's what you have to do to win over Detroiters.

Steve Yzerman did it. Barry Sanders did it. Joe Dumars did it.

Add Matthew Stafford to the list. If this is what this kid is made of, he's going to be loved in Detroit for a long time.

Yes, it was against the worst team in the NFL. Yes, it was in a meaningless game. Every legend has to start somewhere, though, and Stafford just wrote the first chapter in what will potentially be a long NFL career.

Joey Harrington never had this moment. Neither did Charlie Batch or Jon Kitna. In fact, no Lions Quarterback really had this moment since Bobby Layne in the '50s.

Truth be told, this was only the second time since 1957 that Detroit had come back after being down by ten or more points.

The second time since 1957.

It was more than ten points down, too. It started out as a cruelly typical game for the Lions. Here was not only the most offensively-challenged team in the NFL, but one of the three worst NFL offenses of all-time in the inept Cleveland Browns.

So of course Brady Quinn and the Browns jumped out to a 24-3 lead before the first quarter was even over. In the past, I would have turned off the television at that point. I kept watching, though, because my emotionally-detached self wanted to see Cleveland run up the score even further, for my amusement.

Apparently I wasn't alone, because in a surreal moment of the bizarre, the denizens of Ford Field began cheering on the Cleveland Browns.

It may have been the mutiny of the crowd that flickered the light bulb inside the minds of the Detroit Lions, but things began to change from there.

The Lions offense was suddenly unstoppable. They were the offense that Matt Millen must have envisioned when he drafted Joey Harrington and gave him a gluttony of talented receivers to work with.

Here was Stafford hitting Kevin Smith for huge gains, and Calvin Johnson for huge gains, and Brandon Pettigrew for huge gains, so quick you wouldn't believe it.

And before you could believe it, the score was tied at 24-24. You would think this would snap me out of my haze of indifference, but I kept watching merely to answer the question, how will the Lions screw up the game today?

And screw it up they nearly did.

Up by four points in the fourth quarter, and backed up to his own one-yard line, a frantic Matthew Stafford threw the ball away in the end zone, but didn't reach the line of scrimmage.

Intentional grounding in the end zone is a safety. I didn't know that. Wow, I thought, they really do find new, creative ways to lose every week.

Now with the score at 31-29, Detroit would have to kick back to the Browns. Cleveland wouldn't score at that point, but they got their agonizing, knife-in-your-heart drive with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

That it was former Lions tight end Michael Gaines that caught the lead-changing touchdown, made it all the more bitter.

Upon getting the ball back, Matthew Stafford, playing the part of Joey Harrington, Jon Kitna, Charlie Batch, and Scott Mitchell, promptly threw an interception when he tried to hit Calvin Johnson in triple coverage.

The game was essentially over at this point. The Lions had just two timeouts and Cleveland only had to kill just under three minutes of clock; a task we have seen Lions opponents ably perform for decades.

But the Lions felt like toying with our emotions this day, so they burned their timeouts to stop the clock, and the defense rose up and stopped Cleveland's suddenly conservative offense. The Lions would get the ball back on their own 12-yard line with about a minute-and-a-half to go, and no timeouts.

Stafford then went to work, and I was sure as could be that there was no way he could lead Detroit on an 88-yard drive with less than two minutes remaining and no timeouts.

My suspicions seemed to be confirmed when Stafford repeatedly hit his receivers in the the middle of the field. Again and again, they couldn't get out of bounds and Stafford had to rush to the line and spike the ball.

This, however, was what Cleveland was willing to give up. They took away the deep ball and they took away the sidelines.

Finally, we were down to eight seconds to go and Detroit was down to Cleveland's 30-yard line. Enough time for two end zone shots, said the announcers. I agreed.

Stafford took the snap and immediately came under pressure. He scrambled out of the pocket and still couldn't find anyone open! The clock ticked zero. Stafford now had to go for all or nothing. He spun out and heaved a desperation throw.

The pass had no chance. Defenders swarmed over Calvin Johnson, and Matthew Stafford was nailed hard right after releasing the pass.

He didn't move.

Then the yellow flags were thrown. Pass interference. On a Hail Mary play? Seriously?

NFL rules state that a game cannot end on a defensive penalty, and so the Lions were awarded a final play with the clock at zero seconds.

Pass interference in the end zone, by rule, gave the Lions the ball at Cleveland's one-yard line.

Hey, we'll take it.

At this point, Dominic Raiola was trying to pull Stafford up and screaming at him that the officials had given Detroit another play. Stafford was escorted off the field by trainers, though, as it appeared he had injured his collarbone or shoulder, and out came Daunte Culpepper.

This was the worst possible scenario. We had Matthew Stafford, who up until this point had given Detroit the game of his life. He had thrown for over 400 yards and four touchdowns, which equaled up to this point, the greatest performance by a rookie quarterback in NFL history.

All of it would be for nought if a cold Daunte Culpepper came out and blew this play.

Then, like a gift from the heavens, Cleveland called a timeout. I'm sure Eric Mangini just wanted to get his defense focused for the play. He never could have envisioned Matthew Stafford fighting off four team doctors to painfully trudge back out onto the field.

It was here that Stafford took the snap and on pure adrenaline and probably with a separated shoulder, heaved the game-winning pass to Brandon Pettigrew. Pure agony followed, but I'm sure if Stafford could have forced a smile, he would have.

Beware the one-armed man.

Stafford will have more ups and downs from here, more highs and lows, but he now has the best performance by a rookie quarterback in NFL history: 400 yards and five touchdowns. No one can take that away from him.

He also now has the city and the team behind him, and I'm sure that's more valuable than numbers.

The Lions are still very much a work in progress, but at least they have their quarterback. They don't need to worry about that any longer. It's a small step, but a giant leap at the same time.

Matthew Stafford is here to stay.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Tell Me Another Fable: Detroit Lions Win with 0:00 Left

Greg Eno — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:46 -0500

Someday, they’ll have Ford Field’s capacity up to a quarter million, for as many people who will claim to have been there. The Cleveland Browns will be defending league champions. Matthew Stafford will have been carried onto the field on a stretcher. Brandon Pettigrew will have one-handed the football, his body parallel to the turf.

That will pretty much be the gist of the re-telling of what went on Sunday, several years hence.

The Lions beat the Browns, 38-37 in what was deemed to be their last “winnable” game of the season. And we have six weeks to go.

Yes, this was a “winnable” game, alright. Just like how your Lotto ticket is winnable. Or Tom DeLay’s chances on “Dancing with the Stars.”

The Lions had 106 seconds and 88 yards to cover, with no timeouts. Otherwise, they’d have lost to a Browns team that scored, in one game, nearly half of the total points they’d scored for the entire season to this point.

The Lions don’t win games like that. They don’t even get first downs in situations like that. Remember the final “drive” against the Rams a few weeks ago? Someone forgot to take the transmission out of reverse in that one.

The Lions don’t drive down the field and score game-winning touchdowns. They never have. They’ve been the anti-Elway in that regard.

Someone ought to take this kid Stafford and knock some sense into him. How dare he think that he can pull off such miracles while wearing Honolulu Blue and Silver?

Maybe there IS something to this whole went-to-the-same-high-school-as-Bobby-Layne thing, after all.

Ol' Bobby would have been proud. So would Fran Tarkenton.

It wasn’t enough that Stafford zipped and zapped the Lions down the field, gobbling up first downs like Pac-Man. It wasn’t enough that he got the Lions into a manageable situation—the Browns’ 32-yard line—with one shot left in his holster.

It was impossible not to think of Tarkenton when Stafford ran around the Lions’ backfield, faking one throw after the other, as the clock flipped to 0:00. This isn’t the NBA, thank the Lord, where you have to have the sphere in the air before time runs out. The NFL allows play to continue until it’s over with, which in this case took almost as long as Magic Johnson’s talk show run.

Stafford stopped more than once, planted his feet, and made like he was going to throw, but then he would change his mind and dart in the other direction, like the Lions were paying him by the hour.

Then, he could avoid the Browns no longer and heaved the pigskin, just before being firmly planted into the Ford Field turf, his shoulder used as a battering ram against the playing surface.

You know the rest. Hell, the whole state knows it. They know it in Peoria and Butte and Spokane and Amarillo, too. Even the tripe masters in Bristol, CT got the word.

Pass interference. In the end zone. Another lovely NFL thing: the game can’t end on a defensive foul like that.

Here’s where it turns legendary.

Stafford was lying on his back, his left shoulder wrecked, while the Lions celebrated their officiating luck. Center Dom Raiola delivered the news.

“We got PI in the end zone!,” Dom screamed to his prone quarterback.

“He was talking funny,” Raiola said afterward.

Yeah, you tend to do that when you’re lying mortally wounded.

See? There I go, embellishing the legend already.

Somewhere—not sure if up above or down below, knowing Bobby—Layne was smiling as Stafford, aided by a Browns timeout, bolted to his feet, like Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Jerry Maguire,” and ran back onto the field from the sidelines.

Stafford waved backup Daunte Culpepper—who had lined up under center before the Brownies took leave of their senses and called timeout—back to the bench. I can only think of a line uttered by Layne as he huddled the Lions prior to the game-winning drive in the waning minutes of the 1953 NFL Championship Game.

“Alright fellas,” Layne told his players, and it’s been confirmed. “Y’all block and Bobby’ll pass ya raght to the champeenship.”

Which is exactly what Bobby did.

So here’s this kid Stafford, with four TD passes already in his hip pocket—if he throws four of anything it’s usually interceptions, but don’t all rookie QBs?—and his shoulder is on fire and there’s one play to go, from the one-yard line.

It’s 1-8 vs. 1-8, for cripe’s sakes. But it’s a football game in the NFL and those things are lousy to lose when victory is so close.

Stafford throws the TD pass, his fifth, to fellow rook Brandon Pettigrew and the kid QB immediately looks to the bench and motions to his lame left shoulder, the arm hanging limp from it. He’s shaking his head. He wasn’t the only one shaking his noggin.

Lions win, 38-37.

That didn’t happen yesterday. It couldn’t have. Next thing you’ll tell me is that Lucy let Charlie Brown kick the football. Jack and Jill made it down the hill OK after all. Dewey really did defeat Truman.

The Lions won a football game in dramatic, race-against-the-clock fashion. With no timeouts. On a break from the officials. With a rookie quarterback. After falling behind by 21 points in the first quarter.

Oh, stop! Enough telling tall tales!

Rudyard Kipling is dead. Aesop is long gone, too. You take that script to Hollywood and they’ll laugh, telling you that it wouldn’t play.

Rookie QB lies on the ground, uttering his dying words, and the sage veteran has to finish the job? Stafford might as well have been crumpled in a bunker, bombs and gunfire erupting all around him.

Then the kid hears “timeout Browns” on the “loudspeaker”—Stafford’s version in the post-game presser—and scrambles to his feet, puts his helmet on, and returns to battle.

They could make it into a war flick, if you get Hollywood to stop laughing at you long enough.

Lions 38, Browns 37.

Layne’s comeback in ‘53 was against the Browns, too, you know.

Just saying.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

In Battle for the Bottom, Lions Beat Browns In a Barn-Burner.

Daniel Muth — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:53:35 -0500

They say to not be the worst, you've got to beat the worst.

They say that offense loses games but defense prevents even a sniff of the championship.

They say you've just gotta take it fifty years at a time.

Wait.

They don't say these things?

Well they do in Detroit.

Though sports cliches are generally formatted around the premise of winning, the Detroit Lions may now be a cliche all unto themselves, reframing futility to the point of definition.

But maybe, just maybe, there's another team that's willing to rip that crown away.

In the ultimate NFL toilet bowl pitting the 1-8 Lions versus the 1-8 Browns, it was unclear whether either team had what it took to win, though somewhere in the midst of the madness, an NFL game broke out.

And at least one thing became abundantly clear in what may have been the most enjoyable Lions game I've witnessed in years: Bad defense apparently trumps bad offense.

Brady Quinn threw for three touchdowns in the first quarter even though the Browns had scored a mere 9 points in the combined first quarters of their previous 9 games.

The Browns offensive explosion of 24 early points had the Lions on the ropes and was a testament to my perseverance that I even witnessed the game.

I went to three different sports bars in the Charlottesville, Virginia area that refused to turn on the game, instead opting to double and triple up on games that people were actually watching.

"Dude, they're down 24-3 to the Browns," one bartender said, "Nobody wants to watch that."

This obviously neglected the point that I wanted to watch it, but finally, at my forth stop I found a TV in the back corner, semi-obscured by a low handing joist, that I persuaded the ownership to change to the game.

And during the game, folks quietly trickled over to my little screen to watch the NFL's best competition of the day.

The Lions roared back instead of meowing their defeat, and young Matthew Stafford had a game for the record books, tossing five TD's (an NFL rookie record) for 422 yards against two interceptions.

The Lions had two 100-yard receivers in Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith, and traded punches with Brady Quinn and the Browns all night.

In a void, and separated from the history of the clubs, one may have wondered if they were watching two perennial Pro-Bowlers going at it.

With 5:44 left in the game, Brady Quinn delivered his forth touchdown strike of the night to take the lead, and when Stafford followed up with an interception on the next drive, it looked like the Lions were all washed up.

But the "comeback cats" were not done yet.

After getting the ball back Stafford sent a Hail Mary toward the end zone with no time left on the clock, getting slammed to the turf and sustaining a serious shoulder injury, but drawing a pass interference call from the Browns.

And thus, with 0:00 time left on the clock, a clearly injured Stafford delivered his final TD of the day on a rookie to rookie connection that ended with Brandon Pettigrew cradling the tying score.

Fittingly, the final nail was delivered by our Hall-of-Fame kicker on a suddenly very meaningful extra point.

Stafford couldn't even lift his arm over his head to celebrate the throw (though he tried).

And I was going nuts.

And much of the bar was going nuts, as slowly a couple other screens had been switched to the game as it heated up, and slowly people realized that the best game of the day was being played by NFL's two worst teams.

"Stafford's a gamer!" more than one drunken enthusiast told me.

"Calvin's a beast!" a couple others retorted.

"The Lions are on the right track!" many people agreed.

And though it's nice to revel in this victory, and I tend to agree with the first two assessments, I can only hope about the third.

What is clear, is this was a very big win for the Lions.

First, as our own Keith Shelton pointed out a couple weeks ago , the Lions simply cannot afford another number one pick, and this win over the Browns may have given them a little breathing room in that regard.

The Lions may now find themselves with a pick someone's actually willing to trade for, or at very least, one that will cost tens of millions of dollars less.

That's good for the cap in a year that may be the last to see uncapped rookie contracts.

And damn, Matthew Stafford is a gamer and I've got a lot of respect for the way he hobbled back onto the field for the winning play.

And damn, Calvin Johnson is a beast and hopefully the Lions have learned to put the ball in his hands as many times as they can.

And damn, Pettigrew is turning into a legitimate second option.

And damn, the Lions defense is still awful, but at least got the ball back to their young QB to give him a chance.

So there are some things to take away from this game, but it's best to keep some sort of perspective in the midst of the jubilation.

The Lions may not be the worst team in the league, just barely, but they've also still got quite a mountain to climb if they ever want to take in the view from the top.

But here's hoping their barn-burner over the Browns is just a taste of things to come.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Get 'em or Don't Sweat 'em: Week 11

Ryan Lester — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:15:46 -0500

There were some unusual heroes on Sunday. There always are. Let’s take a look at them and see if they are worthy of your fantasy rosters.

Brady Quinn, QB, Clevlenad Browns
Quinn had over 300 yards and 4 TDs, but Detroit isn’t on his schedule anymore. He has some use in 2-QB leagues, but that’s about it.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Stafford threw for over 400 yards and 5 TDs. Like Quinn, he won’t be facing this opponent again. He has more value because he actually has some weapons, but is only useful in 2-QB leagues. He got nicked up, and with a short week it’s not likely that the Lions will trot their franchise QB out there.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Leinart replaced Kurt Warner, who left with a head injury. Teams have played it safe, and rightfully so, in these situations, so Leinart could find himself in the starting lineup next week. It would be tough on the WRs, but he has enough weapons to make him useful should he start.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks
If you passed on Justin Forsett because he faced the Vikings this week, go ahead and snatch them up. Forsett struggled with 9 yards on 9 carries, but he added a rushing TD and 80 receiving yards. Plus, he faces St. Louis next week.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins
Rock filled in for Betts who filled in for Portis. He had 140 total yards in a 7-6 game, which is pretty impressive. I don’t know that I could use him, but I’d probably pick him up so nobody else could. Betts is done for the year, and Portis has already been ruled out this week.
Ruling: Get ‘em

Mike Bell, RB, New Orleans Saints
Bell closed out the game for the Saint with a pair of short TDs. He’s worth owning for RB depth, though I would have a hard time rolling with him unless I was hurting at RB.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego Chargers
Tolbert scored a late TD in the Chargers win over the Raiders, but by no means is a threat to LT’s fantasy value.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints
Meachem scored a pair of TDs, but had just ten receiving yards. He’s worth owning, but too risky to use in your fantasy lineup.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Chansi Stuckey/Mohamed Massaquoi, WRs, Cleveland Browns
They both scored this week, but let’s face it, you can’t trust a Brown this season.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Chris Chambers, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Chambers continued his revival in Kansas City. With Bowe out three more games, Chambers has a good chance to be a fantasy force down the home stretch.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com .

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Daily Haze: Early Week 12 Waiver Wire Thoughts

Michael McNeil — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:06:55 -0500

A few names on the waiver wire this week for those in dynasty and/or deep keepers leagues with an eye on next season: Chris Jennings and Brandon Gibson.

I mentioned Gibson last week after his breakthrough game against the depleted New Orleans Saints' secondary. He went out yesterday and proved that last week's results were not necessarily the result of playing against second- and third-stringers.

Against the Cardinals as the No. 2 wide receiver, Gibson chipped in five catches for 61 yards. On third-and-four from inside the 10-yard line, Marc Bulger floated a pass to Gibson in the endzone which could have sent the game to overtime but Gibson dropped the ball. That he was trusted with such a route in a crucial spot is a good sign for the future.

Consider adding Gibson this week off the waiver wire or adding him onto a blockbuster deal if your trade deadline is this week.

Jennings, meanwhile, rushed for 36 yards in spelling outgoing Browns' running back Jamal Lewis. He also contributed in the passing game with five catches for 38 yards.

The Browns will have James Davis in camp next summer and could bring in another running back or two via free agency or the draft to compete for the starting job. But Jennings is getting some valuable playing time right now that could go a long way toward his standing on the team next season.

Early week 12 waiver wire thoughts for the rest of us:

Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins [6-63]
Rock Cartwright, RB, Redskins [67; 7-73]
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions [6-72-1]
Kevin Boss, TE, Giants [5-76-2]
Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions [422-5]
Brady Quinn, QB, Browns [304-4]
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Browns [5-115-1]
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills [35; 4-20]

Here are today's great reads:

There is almost no way Mark Sanchez should be owned in redraft leagues at this point. He and Matt Stafford appear to be heading in opposite directions at the moment. [Bruno Boys]

Looking for a fun league prize this season? Consider one of these Fantasy+Ethos%29" target="_blank">fantasy football t-shirts . [Fantasy Ethos]

It was a good thing Dallas Clark caught that early touchdown for fantasy owners, because that is all he did yesterday. [Pancake Blocks]

Welcome back to fantasy relevance, Terrell Owens . Not sure what to expect of TO going forward, but those of us who started him this weekend were happy for the one-week revival. [CBSSports.com]

I had to watch the Lions and Browns yesterday afternoon and I have to say it was one of the more entertaining football games I have seen this season. [Shutdown Corner]

More on the revival of Terrell Owens and the coincidental decline of the Dallas Cowboys' passing game the same Sunday as Owens' big day. [FanHouse]

If you are a Tweeter, follow The Hazean on Twitter . If it is a good chuckle you desire, check out The Hazean's Facebook page . Remember to follow (Twitter) and become a fan (Facebook) of The Hazean on both popular social networking sites.

If it is just more solid reading material that you crave, check out The Hazean's Google Reader Shared Items page.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com

Lions-Browns: Matthew Stafford, Brady Quinn Show Potential in Detroit Win

Evan Higgins — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:30:15 -0500

The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns have a lot in common.

Both are struggling to win, and both have young, developing quarterbacks who labored to find consistency all season.

But on Sunday, both young quarterbacks displayed their potential.

Though Cleveland and Detroit have two of the worst defenses in the league, these quarterbacks gave their coaches exactly what they needed to see: leadership.

With eight seconds left in the game and the Lions down by six, Matthew Stafford stepped on the field and stepped up his performance. The former SEC quarterback ran around the field, dodging many Cleveland defenders, and threw the ball deep into the end zone.

The pass was intercepted.

However, Cleveland was flagged for pass interference, and the Lions took the ball at the one-yard line with no time left on the clock. Stafford had one play to redeem himself.

Stafford gets knocked on the turf, staying down with a hurt shoulder. Daunte Culpepper comes in, but Browns coach Eric Mangini calls a time out.

Matthew Stafford wants back in.

Then, with a hurt shoulder on his left arm, Stafford hiked the ball and threw a one-yard pass to a fellow rookie, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, to win the game.

Stafford finished the day 26-for-43 for 422 yards passing and five touchdowns. He came into the game with six touchdowns on the season. He showed the potential and leadership to be an NFL great one day.

But Stafford wasn't the only young quarterback to impress.

Despite the loss, Brady Quinn came up big for the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

Both of these quarterbacks have the potential to be the next superstar.

Of course, they must first play like they did today against top defenses like Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Today's game was a loss for Quinn and a win for Stafford, but, regardless of outcome, it gave each player confidence and hope for themselves, as well as their teams.

Read more Matthew Stafford news on BleacherReport.com