Aaron Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL who is not named Patrick Mahomes. So if HE is defending Matthew Stafford, maybe Detroit Lions fans should listen.
Aaron Rodgers strikes fear in the hearts of Detroit Lions fans. And he has done it from the moment he became the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop him from giving his division rival some overdue praise.
Well, his division rival quarterback, to be specific.
On an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this past Tuesday, Rodgers heaped praise on Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford when the discussion turned to no-look passes in the NFL and who was the innovator. Pat McAfee jokingly thanked Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for introducing it to the NFL.
And that’s when Rodgers gulped his beverage and acknowledged his contemporary.
“I will say this,” Rodgers said. “A guy who probably doesn’t get anywhere near the credit for doing (expletive) like that all the time, he wears No. 9 and plays in Detroit. That dude, what he does with the ball is impressive. It’s really, really impressive,”
“That dude is throwing crazy no-lookers all the time. And he can throw from any arm angle. I don’t think he gets; maybe it’s Detroit.”
It’s one thing for Lions fans who drink the Honolulu blue kool-aid to defend Stafford. And it’s understandable to support “your guy.” On the flip side, it’s another thing when a two-time NFL MVP and arguably a top-five quarterback in history does it. Because regardless of what fans may feel about Stafford, a compliment from Rodgers goes along way.
He is not a man that gives out praises flippantly.
Rodgers even doubled down on defending Stafford after McAfee brought up the Lions shutout loss on Sunday to the Carolina Panthers, acknowledging that Stafford was without several key offensive weapons.
Is the Matthew Stafford criticism unfair?
Depending on who you talk to, the criticism of Matthew Stafford’s play will vary.
Some fans think that Stafford is getting a raw deal in Detroit. Then other fans want him out of town on the next thing smoking. However, with vital offensive weapons such as Kenny Golladay, D’Andre Swift, and Kerryon Johnson having up and down health all season, Stafford’s numbers are still respectable.
In 10 games this season, Stafford has is 13th in the league in passing yards (2,581), 15th in passing yards per game (258.1), and 14th in touchdowns (17). Along with that, he has a 93.7 passer rating. With Stafford’s main target in Golladay sidelined most of the season, it’s hard not to acknowledge how impressive this is.
Then again, Stafford’s job is to do this and then some, given his talent.
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