Matthew Stafford: Why Detroit Needs Another Answer at Quarterback

Matthew Stafford has the potential to be a great NFL player, but now is not his time.

The Detroit Lions need to win games immediately, and that means they need a healthy quarterback on the field.

With tough matchups like the New Orleans Saints looming, the Lions need to do what's right and give themselves the best chance to win. That means benching Matthew Stafford until he is fully recovered from his finger injury.

Here are four reasons why Matthew Stafford is not the answer for Detroit right now.

4. Interceptions

Over the last three weeks, Stafford has thrown nine interceptions. After eight games, he had just four.

Stafford is giving the other team free possessions all to often in recent weeks, and it's causing Detroit to fall behind on the scoreboard.

There was hope that the game against the Carolina Panthers was a turning point, but he fell apart again against the Green Bay Packers.

It's not even that his completion percentage is struggling, in fact, it has been over 70 percent the last two weeks, but when Stafford misses, he misses bad.

Detroit relies on the passing game to play well consistently because their running game is non-existent, and right now, that's not possible with Stafford at the helm.

3. The Lions Need a Spark

Detroit needs something to turn the momentum around.

What the Green Bay Packers did to them on Thanksgiving was embarrassing, and the ejection of Suh only highlights the fact that this team is spiraling in the wrong direction.

I am sure his teammates will defend Stafford until the end of time, but something needs to happen for them to rebound against the Saints next Sunday night.

Can Shaun Hill be this week's Kevin Smith?

The Lions should seriously consider that option because the Wild-Card race is not getting any easier.

2. Shaun Hill Is a Capable Backup

Shaun Hill is not an exceptional NFL quarterback, but he's not going to inhibit Detroit from winning games.

The Lions have enough offensive weapons to complement Hill and elevate his game.

It has to be a welcome transition to a starting role when you see Calvin Johnson lining up on the outside.

In 11 appearances last season, Hill had 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He threw for at least 220 yards in each of those starts.

Hill is not going to excite the fanbase the way Stafford can, but until the franchise quarterback is healthy, Hill is a quality option.

1. Stafford Needs To Get Healthy

Matthew Stafford is the Detroit Lions future. He's the best quarterback that has come to the Motor City in decades, but he's not healthy.

His finger is clearly bothering him, he would not be wearing a glove if it weren't.

He's still young, and his confidence cannot be high when he continues to throw interceptions and hurt his teams chances to win football games.

Stafford has not even been able to get the ball to his safety valve Calvin Johnson in recent weeks.

Johnson has just one touchdown his last three games.

Let Stafford sit for a couple weeks until he's fully healed, it might help the Lions get back in the win column consistently.