Will Matthew Stafford ever be able to stay healthy?

  Matthew Stafford went down again and I, like most people, wasn't surprised.  This time he wasn't even hit.  After watching him fall and immediately go for his shoulder I turned away in disgust.  He was tripped.  That's it, tripped.  Despite Stafford's fragile frame we may be over looking the most important injury that took place on Sunday.  Jason Hanson wasn't able to play and because of that the Lion's potential four point lead turned into a three point lead.  Look, I know the big fella played a little soccer but is he really our best option to kick an extra point?  Don't we have a punter?  Correct me if I'm wrong (pretty sure I'm not) but aren't you still allowed to drop kick an extra point?  Why not give Nick Harris a shot or at least call a time out to let Ndamukong Suh kick a few more times into the net?  I guess we'll never know.

  Let's get back to Stafford.  His feeble shoulder has become a huge problem for the Lions.  There is no doubt he is talented enough to be the starting quarterback this franchise has coveted for decades but will he ever be able to stay on the field?  Whether he returns next week against the Bills or next season he will have plenty of critics and I'll be one of them.  If he had the durability of ...eh....Brett Favre (if you know me you know that it kills me to credit Favre for anything because I hate him) he may have pro bowl potential for years to come.  However, any time there is even a slight pass rush my heart will more than likely skip a beat or two.  The Lions just need to let him heal, send him to the weight room (emphasis on shoulders and arms), and institute a no touch rule for him.  No chest bumps, or high fives especially because of the obvious danger potential and clear the lockers on each side of his just to make sure there is no accidental bumping.  All kidding aside I think Matthew Stafford has the ability and talent to take the Lions into the playoffs in the very near future.  Now he just has to show us he can stay on the field.

What if...Matthew Stafford never got hurt?

    What if Matthew Stafford had never gotten hurt?  How many wins would the Lions have?  What would Stafford's numbers look like?  Would the Lions actually be a playoff contender?  I'll answer these questions...and more.

    How many wins would the Lions have right now if Matthew Stafford had never gotten hurt.  This is certainly a tough one.  Although I would like to think he would make a huge difference I definitely can't say that it would.  However, I do think they would have more than one win.  Don't get me wrong, Sean Hill played very well in his absence but this team and city has started to rally around Stafford.  Sean Hill throws rainbows while Stafford throws lasers.  I know it is still just his second year and he is only 22 years old so I think I will be modest with my selection.  Call me crazy if you like but my prediction is:
3-3 Wins- Bears, Packers, Rams.  Losses- Eagles, Vikings, Giants.

    What would Stafford's numbers look like?  While I don't think he would be battling Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, or Matt Schaub I do think they would be better than average.  The Lions came out pretty conservative in the Chicago game (much to the chagrin of their fans) but I believe they were simply trying to setup the play action so they could go over the top to number 81.  Just like Manning I believe Stafford would have, and still could, make great strides in year two at the helm.  My prediction:
1,480 Yds - 11 TD - 5 Int.

    Here is the big one.  Would the Lions actually be a playoff contender?  My answer may surprise some but I believe they would.  The reason being the level of competition across the NFC and the North division this year.  If this were any of the last ten years or so I would say no but no one in the division looks to be good enough to run away with it.  Everyone is mediocre and the Lions would only be a half game out at three and three.  It is entirely possible that 8-8 or 9-7 will win this division so it's anybodies game.  What if Matthew Stafford never got hurt? One thing I CAN guarantee is that Lions fans might actually anticipate Sunday afternoons rather than dread them.

Welcome to the Lion's Den!

  Welcome to the Lion's Den everyone.  I will be looking for one or two authors to blog about the Lions and we will talk about everything including rumors, trade proposals, news, and other fun segments.  Hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow us!