Matthew Stafford is the best QB in Detroit Lions history. I have gotten into many debates about just what that means. After the win in Jacksonville yesterday Matthew Stafford doesn’t need to be THE guy any more.

Matthew Stafford has had his great moments in the Honolulu Blue and Silver. He has shown over his career he has the tools to be elite. The way the Detroit Lions dominated running the ball yesterday, shows me, Stafford just needs to be a good game manager.

Detroit Lions Rushing

For the Detroit Lions to take the next step they no longer need to solely rely on the arm of Matthew Stafford. Yesterday showed what the blue print of success for Detroit looks like. That is a heavy dose of D’Andre Swift, Adrian Peterson and a touch of Kerryon Johnson.

The Lions racked up 180 yards on the ground. 116 of those yards coming from D’Andre Swift. Who is the first Detroit Lions Rookie to rush for over 100 yards and 2 TD’s since Barry F’n Sanders. Lets not get ahead of ourselves and call him the next Barry. But it sure is nice to hear some of the GOAT’s accomplishments being tied. Instead of tying Joey Harrington for blown leads!

Matthew Stafford’s Role

If the Lions, and Matthew Stafford, are able to control the ball like the did on Sunday, we will have a lot more fun this season as fans and as a team.

Stafford played a decent game. He didn’t have to be the hero and that is the position we need to put him in. Stafford has never really been the guy who can put a team on his back. He has all the tools to be great, just seems to miss that “it” factor you hear so much about. That is not a knock on his abilities.

With Stafford you can’t just lean on his big arm to save us every single game. 12 years into his career he is a great game manager. That is how we need to use him. Then, when the time calls, use that rocket for an arm to make game changing plays. Just like his bomb to Kenny Golladay!

The Future With Detroit

After all the trade talks the past few weeks, it looks like the Lions will ride or die with Matthew Stafford calling the plays from center. I don’t have any problem with that at all. Just keep letting him manage the game and don’t rely on his arm to save us. That is the recipe for success for the Detroit Lions.