Detroit Lions: Win in Oakland Solidifies Matthew Stafford's MVP Candidacy

The 2011 NFL MVP race has all the intrigue and suspense of a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game.  We all know who is going to win, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch.

Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are very close, but Aaron Rodgers is the clear MVP favorite among most NFL fans.

Unless you live in Denver and engage in spontaneous Tebowing rituals on Sunday.

There should be another name added to that list, though. After leading the Lions to another double-digit come-from-behind win in Oakland, Matthew Stafford deserves to be in the discussion.

Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that Stafford should challenge Rodgers or even Brees for the MVP award. I think those two players are the clear front-runners.  

Stafford's performance is more on par with Brady and Manning. 

Here's why.

Importance to the Team

In order to be a true MVP candidate, one has to be the most important player on his team. 

Sounds obvious right? Not so fast. Some might argue that Rob Gronkowski or Wes Welker should be MVP candidates. They have great numbers.

Unfortunately for them they have a guy named Brady throwing them the ball. Brady is the undisputed leader of that team and is by far the most important player. Without him, Welker and Gronkowski would be average.

The Lions have a similar, albeit more complicated, situation between Stafford and Calvin Johnson. There are valid arguments you could make for Johnson being the more important player. It is very close.

In my mind, though, Stafford wins out.

He touches the ball every play on offense, he makes decisions on the fly based on defensive personnel and he distributes the ball. 

For this reason, his performance impacts the success off the offense more than anyone else.

This argument is supported when you compare the Lions win loss record with Stafford's quarterback rating. Stafford's performance is a great predictor. 

The numbers back this up.

In the Lions five losses Stafford's average quarterback rating was 74.4. He threw eight interceptions in those games.

In their nine wins, Stafford has enjoyed an average quarterback rating of 109.6. He's only thrown six interceptions in those nine games.

Statistical Significance

In order to be considered MVP, a player has to have numbers that exceed the majority of other players at his position. 

That is why Tim Tebow cannot be a true candidate. The Denver Broncos have enjoyed an incredible turnaround with him at the helm. But he doesn't have the numbers that compare with the truly elite quarterbacks.

Which brings into question his true importance to the team.

With Stafford there is no question. His statistics put him in elite company. He compares with all the quarterbacks I've mentioned already.

For the year, Stafford's 568 attempts are second in the NFL behind Brees. Rodgers is ranked 11th.

Stafford's 356 completions are second behind Brees also. Brady, Manning and Rodgers are three, four and five.

Stafford's 33 touchdowns is fourth in the NFL behind Rodgers, Brees and Brady.

He is ranked fifth in total yards (4,145) and yards per game (296). Who's ahead of him in both categories? You guessed it, Brees, Brady, Manning and Rodgers. In that order.

Comeback Kid

Finally, Stafford has intangibles that make the kind of come from behind win we saw in Oakland possible.

Like Manning, he has engineered a number of fourth quarter game-winning drives this year.  Manning has done more, but Stafford's faced greater deficits in his comeback wins. 

He's overcome deficits of 20 points at halftime against Minnesota, 24 points in the third quarter against Dallas, 17 points to Carolina, and 14 points in the fourth quarter against Oakland.

Like all great quarterbacks—and unlike all Detroit Lions quarterbacks before him—Stafford steps up at the most important times. 

A loss in Oakland would have sealed doom for their playoff hopes. Yet Stafford played his best when the game, and the season, was on the line.

Perhaps the most telling reason for Stafford's MVP consideration can be explained by any fan of the Detroit Lions. Stafford keeps playing when others would quit. 

When the Raiders scored on Stafford's fourth quarter fumble there was a collective groan in Motown.

Fans had seen this before. 

At this point Lions teams of old would have quit and handed the game to Oakland. But Stafford, as much as his coach Jim Schwartz, has changed the culture of this team. 

His abilities give the Lions hope that they can compete with anyone. His supreme confidence is infectious. His actions have earned the respect of his teammates.

He is the kind of leader that all teams need. He is the kind of leader that other players will follow. 

Stafford is the kind of quarterback that wins MVP trophies.