Stafford season in perspective

[Cylander]

Everyone was using in that era. Over 100 players tested positive in 2003. It was a pretty even playing field. The fact still remains only 4 players have ever done it and Stafford is one of them. Does Barry Sanders 2000 yard season get knocked down because more players rushed for 1000 yards back then?

[kgeorge78]

Stafford is amazing and a Future MVP. Anybody who disagrees is Nuts....

[nd1377]

Stafford was amazing and so was CJ.

CJs final regular season stats:
96 receptions

1,681 yards

17.5 yards/catch

105.1 yards/game

73T longest

16 touchdowns

[lordstanley]

Stafford was amazing and so was CJ.

Yep.

Johnson, who was limited throughout the week by the tendon soreness, had 11 catches for a career-high 244 yards and his 16th receiving touchdown of the season — a team record.

He finished the season with 96 catches and 1,681 yards — both career highs. And it's most likely going to net him a $4.5 million bonus.

As ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday, Johnson has reached the five goals needed to trigger the bonus. He surpassed 12 touchdown receptions, made the Pro Bowl selection, played at least 80 percent of the offensive snaps while the team wins at least nine games, led the NFC with 16 receiving touchdowns and he surpassed Wes Welker as the NFL's receiving yards leader.

Jim Schwartz is too angry for words after Lions loss | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

[Gehringer_2]

For me the amazing thing watching Stafford is that not only can be make accurate throws from all kinds of arm angles, it's that his reaction time and vision both up field (the rushers) and downfield (his targets) simultaneously are all good enough that he can process that he has to make a particular throw from a different angle.

It's been said that what made Montana special was not so much his physical talent but that he saw the game moving slower than everyone else.

[Shinzaki]

To devalue Stafford's season because of what other QB's might do in the near future is ludicrous. The man had a season that statistically is in the top 6-7 seasons of all time. If other QB's put up similar numbers going forward, then we can have a discussion about the historical perspective.

[alwaysthrowheat]

To devalue Stafford's season because of what other QB's might do in the near future is ludicrous. The man had a season that statistically is in the top 6-7 seasons of all time. If other QB's put up similar numbers going forward, then we can have a discussion about the historical perspective.

Is it though? 4 of the top 6 passing seasons in terms of yards in the history of the entire NFL this season.

[T&P_Fan]

Is it though? 4 of the top 6 passing seasons in terms of yards in the history of the entire NFL this season.

And if it happens again next season, we can talk. For now, top 5 or 6 seasons of all time.

[alwaysthrowheat]

And if it happens again next season, we can talk. For now, top 5 or 6 seasons of all time.

It's not even in the top 80 of passer rating seasons of all time. How was his season better than Aaron Rodgers this season, Tom Brady's last season, Peyton Manning's 2004, etc. Just because he threw for more yards?

How is his season better than one which Manning had a 67% completion, 4557 yards, 49 TD, 10 picks, 9.2 Y/a, and a 121 rating? Stafford was 63% completion, 5038 yards, 41 TD, 16 picks, 7.6 Y/A, and a 97 rating. He just threw the ball more times, thats the only advantage.

[Cylander]

Only two other players in the history of the NFL have done what Stafford did. When you compare it to Marino's season, it's pretty similar.

[T&P_Fan]

It's not even in the top 80 of passer rating seasons of all time. How was his season better than Aaron Rodgers this season, Tom Brady's last season, Peyton Manning's 2004, etc. Just because he threw for more yards?

How is his season better than one which Manning had a 67% completion, 4557 yards, 49 TD, 10 picks, 9.2 Y/a, and a 121 rating? Stafford was 63% completion, 5038 yards, 41 TD, 16 picks, 7.6 Y/A, and a 97 rating. He just threw the ball more times, thats the only advantage.

haha, funny how you use one stat that is subjective and without merit.

Stafford yards in a season: 4th all time
TDs in a season: 7th all time
Yards in a game: 6th all time
Yards/game: 6th all time

I never said Stafford had a better season than Manning, in fact I never comapred to anyone specifically, I just said 5 or 6 all time, and maybe I change that to 6 or 7.

[alwaysthrowheat]

haha, funny how you use one stat that is subjective and without merit.

Stafford yards in a season: 4th all time
TDs in a season: 7th all time
Yards in a game: 6th all time
Yards/game: 6th all time

I never said Stafford had a better season than Manning, in fact I never comapred to anyone specifically, I just said 5 or 6 all time, and maybe I change that to 6 or 7.

All of the stats you're using have to do with how often the ball is thrown. Stafford threw the ball the third most of all time. It's no surprise he ranks so high in yards. Aaron Rodgers season ranks worse than Stafford in all of the categories you just mentioned, besides TD's. It's pretty clear he had a better year than Stafford. Maybe you're the one not using merit.

[Cylander]

Lets discredit Barry Sanders 2000 yard season because he rushed the ball 335 times. Of course you are going to have to throw the ball a lot to have 5000 yards. 5000 yards is a milestone only 4 players have ever achieved. Yes Stafford threw the ball a lot. He still had to make the completions and only had 16 INT while dropping back to pass that many times.

[sabretooth]

After a roughly 15-year dominance by the running game, I think the recent rule changes and enforcement protecting QBs has gone up a big notch, and the passing game has become king. I think we'll see a lot more gunslinging in the future; my guess is we'll see a lot fewer Trent Dilfer/Chris Chandler/Rex Grossman types QBing really good teams.

[Shinzaki]

As pointed out earlier...he threw the ball a ton against defenses that had to do nothing more than focus on him throwing the ball a ton. Any way you care to slice it...this was a damned impressive season. That it was turned in by a 23 year-old playing his first full season as a starter is almost mind boggling.

I know that it might...and given the uncertain weather on the east coast in January, it's a strong might...have been better to play the Giants instead of the Saints. But next week we are going to see two 5000 yard passers square off in the NFL playoffs...we are going to see history being made and that is pretty cool.

[alwaysthrowheat]

Lets discredit Barry Sanders 2000 yard season because he rushed the ball 335 times. Of course you are going to have to throw the ball a lot to have 5000 yards. 5000 yards is a milestone only 4 players have ever achieved. Yes Stafford threw the ball a lot. He still had to make the completions and only had 16 INT while dropping back to pass that many times.

Sanders season was much better because he had the 89th most rushing attempts in history, while gaining the third most yards. He also averaged over 6 yards per carry, which has barely been done by a RB in the Super Bowl era.

[sabretooth]

As pointed out earlier...he threw the ball a ton against defenses that had to do nothing more than focus on him throwing the ball a ton. Any way you care to slice it...this was a damned impressive season. That it was turned in by a 23 year-old playing his first full season as a starter is almost mind boggling.

I know that it might...and given the uncertain weather on the east coast in January, it's a strong might...have been better to play the Giants instead of the Saints. But next week we are going to see two 5000 yard passers square off in the NFL playoffs...we are going to see history being made and that is pretty cool.

To be clear, I meant no disrespect to Staffords astounding/unreal/orgasmic season...he's clearly a great QB with a great future if he can stay healthy. I don't really root for the Lions anymore but I root for Stafford and Calvin and I love to watch these two play. They are just fabulous.

[Cylander]

I hope this puts to rest whether the Lions should've drafted Mark Sanchez.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

To devalue Stafford's season because of what other QB's might do in the near future is ludicrous. The man had a season that statistically is in the top 6-7 seasons of all time. If other QB's put up similar numbers going forward, then we can have a discussion about the historical perspective.

To be fair, I think objectively he had a worse season than Brees, Rodgers and Brady. In other words, I think he had the 4th best season by a qb in 2011. And that is giving him the nod over Romo (something I agree with, but there is an argument Romo was somewhat better).

So I am to believe Stafford was the 4th best qb in 2011 (and just a hair above #5), but was one of the 6-7 best seasons of all time?

I conceed it is possible, but it seems to me much more like that the league changed making accumulating amazing passing statisitics easier to far easier than in years past.

[John_Brian_K]

For me the amazing thing watching Stafford is that not only can be make accurate throws from all kinds of arm angles, it's that his reaction time and vision both up field (the rushers) and downfield (his targets) simultaneously are all good enough that he can process that he has to make a particular throw from a different angle.

It's been said that what made Montana special was not so much his physical talent but that he saw the game moving slower than everyone else.

But how did he get all those crazy stats throwing behind the worst o-line in the history of the game and the worst single player in the history of the game and the 2nd worst player in the history of the game? If we had an even serviceable LT and center, Stafford would have thrown for 7000+!!!!!!

[John_Brian_K]

And for the Stafford haters I have 1 word:

Scoreboard

[Gehringer_2]

But how did he get all those crazy stats throwing behind the worst o-line in the history of the game and the worst single player in the history of the game and the 2nd worst player in the history of the game? If we had an even serviceable LT and center, Stafford would have thrown for 7000+!!!!!!

TBH - I think it is pretty scary what Stafford could accomplish with a little running game to help him out. Passing stats might even be a lot less gaudy but it would be an even more awesome offense to watch. Of course in football it isn't that easy to rebuild all your weaknesses before your current strengths falter - so we maybe we never see that potential juggernaut come to pass.

[alwaysthrowheat]

TBH - I think it is pretty scary what Stafford could accomplish with a little running game to help him out. Passing stats might even be a lot less gaudy but it would be an even more awesome offense to watch. Of course in football it isn't that easy to rebuild all your weaknesses before your current strengths falter - so we maybe we never see that potential juggernaut come to pass.

While there is a chance Best never returns to form, LeShore will be back next year, and the running game should be better.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Lets discredit Barry Sanders 2000 yard season because he rushed the ball 335 times.

If three other running backs rushed for similar or more yards in fewer rushing attempts that same season, I probably would discount it some.

As noted, his 6.1 yards / carry during that 2000 yard season is insanely high, so he carried the ball about as infrequently as one can and have any sort of realistic shot to rush for 2000 yards in an NFL season, as opposed to the idea he rushed frequently. In fact, one thing striking (to me, anyway) about Barry Sanders' career is how infrequently he ran relative to the other top rushers in the league in some of his seasons.

IIRC he is only one of two running backs to average over 5 yards per carry over his carreer (Jim Brown being the other).

[John_Brian_K]

TBH - I think it is pretty scary what Stafford could accomplish with a little running game to help him out. Passing stats might even be a lot less gaudy but it would be an even more awesome offense to watch. Of course in football it isn't that easy to rebuild all your weaknesses before your current strengths falter - so we maybe we never see that potential juggernaut come to pass.

I would bet money (no matter what happens) that he will never have a season as good as this....I want to keep this in perspective because Lions fans are not realistic....he most likely will not have another season like this as long as he lives. I hope he does, but if you want to be realistic ....do not expect another season like this next year.

We have just witnessed one of the best combined QB's performances in our lifetime.

Brees
Rodgers
Stafford
Brady

I bet Peyton was pissed he couldn't get on the field and add to the list.

And just for the hell of it...... Brees would have my vote for MVP especially after what Flynn did.

[Gehringer_2]

I would bet money (no matter what happens) that he will never have a season as good as this....I want to keep this in perspective because Lions fans are not realistic....he most likely will not have another season like this as long as he lives. I hope he does, but if you want to be realistic ....do not expect another season like this next year.

We have just witnessed one of the best combined QB's performances in our lifetime.

Brees
Rodgers
Stafford
Brady

I bet Peyton was pissed he couldn't get on the field and add to the list.

And just for the hell of it...... Brees would have my vote for MVP especially after what Flynn did.

From a statistical perspective I wouldn't disagree at all, 1st because I hope Stafford never has to play another season on the team with the fewest(?) rushing attempts in the league. 2nd because the league is constantly tweaking the rules, so the pass dominance we see today will almost certainly come back to earth with some future changes.

But that doesn't mean I don't think there will be a year where he plays the position better.

[nd1377]

IMHO, Manning would have had a great season but his team is pointing downward. The Colts(aging team losing steam) would be better off trading Manning(to a team on the verge of playoffs like the Jets) for several draft picks and drafting Luck.

The NFL better start testing QBs for steroids given all the inflated stats. QBs are probably injecting it in their arms for better accuracy, longer passes, etc.