23-year old Matt Stafford finally stayed healthy in 2011 and the result was a 10-6 record and a trip to the playoffs for the Lions.  Stafford played in 16 games (all starts) for the Lions this year and he completed 421 of 663 passes (63.5%) for 5,038 yards with 41 TD passes and 16 INTs (97.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards (3.5 ypc) this year.  Matt Stafford has now played in 29 games (all starts) in his NFL career so far and he has completed 679 of 1,136 passes (59.8%) for 7,840 yards with 60 TD passes and 37 INTs (84.7 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 46 times for 197 yards (4.3 ypc) with 3 TD carries so far in his career.  The Lions are 13-16 (44.8%) with Stafford at QB during this first three years in the NFL.  The sky is the limit for Stafford as long as he can stay healthy.

31-year old Shaun Hill is one of the better backup QBs in the NFL.  Hill played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Lions this year and he completed 2 of 3 passes (66.7%) for 33 yards without a TD pass or INT (103.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for -1 yard last year.  Hill has now played in 32 games (26 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 581 of 941 passes (61.7%) for 6,209 yards with 39 TD passes and 23 INTs (84.7 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 69 times for 319 yards (4.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs so far in his NFL career.  Hill is 13-13 (50%) as a starting QB in his NFL career so far.

It appears as if 23-year old QB Matt Stafford’s broken right index finger is feeling better as he is throwing the ball well once again.  He has turned into a nice little secret for Detroit as no one seems to be talking about how well he is playing in the national news.  They are focusing on heaping praise on Cam Newton and Tim Tebow, two QBs that Stafford is way better than right now.  Stafford has played in 13 games for the Lions so far this year and he has completed 327 of 516 passes (63.4%) for 3,754 yards with 29 TD passes and 14 INTs (92.6 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 19 times for 68 yards (3.6 ypc) so far this year.  Stafford has now played in 26 games in his first three years with the Lions and he has completed 585 of 989 passes (59.2%) for 6,556 yards with 48 TD passes and 35 INTs (80.4 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 43 times for 187 yards (4.3 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career so far.  I expect Stafford to keep improving as long as he can stay healthy.

25-year old DE Cliff Avril is really turning in a good season for the Detroit Lions.  He has played in 12 games for the Lions so far this year and he has 24 tackles, 7 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 passes defensed.  Avril has now played in 53 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has 121 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 26 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 11 passes defensed.  Cliff Avril is one of the building blocks for the Lions on D, and they still need to add to it in 2012.

26-year old WR Calvin Johnson is having easily the best year of his NFL career for the Lions.  He has played in 11 games for the Lions so far this year and he has caught 63 passes for 1,023 yards (16.2 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  Johnson has went over 100 yards receiving five times already this year.  Johnson has now played in 71 games in his first five years with the Lions and he has caught 333 passes for 5,214 yards (15.7 avg) with 45 TD grabs.  The Lions need Johnson to stay healthy the rest of the year, as Matt Stafford and him are connecting really well this year.

23-year old Matthew Stafford is turning into the QB the Lions expected him to be when they drafted him three years ago.  He has stayed healthy for the most part (he has a broken finger on his right hand right now), and he is cashing in on his “potential”.  Stafford has played in 10 games for the Lions this year and he has completed 244 of 398 passes (61.3%) for 2,843 yards with 25 TD passes and 10 INTs (93.4 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 13 times for 33 yards (2.5 ypc) so far this year for the Lions.  Stafford is playing at such a high level right now that he should start be mentioned as one of  the best QBs in the NFL.  The Lions are going to be good for a long time as long as Stafford stays healthy.

27-year old cornerback Chris Houston has been incredible this year for the Lions.  He has played in 9 games for the Lions so far this year and he has 42 tackles, 4 interceptions (2 returned for TDs), 10 passes defensed and 2 tackles for a loss.  Houston has now played in 24 games in his first two years with the Lions and he has 98 tackles, 5 interceptions (2 returned for TDs), 22 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 3 tackles for a loss.  Houston is turning into the lockdown corner the Lions thought they were getting when they signed him a couple of years ago.

45-year old head coach Jim Schwartz took over a Lions’ team coming off an 0-16 season.  The Lions are finally where everyone in Detroit wants them to be, as they have won 10 of their last 12 regular season games dating back to last December.  The defense has really improved against the pass and the passing game has taken off offensively.  Matthew Stafford has stayed healthy all season (knock on wood) and he is living up to the vast potential that the Lions saw in him when they drafted him #1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.  The Lions are now 14-26 (35%) in Jim Schwartz’ first three years in charge and they have improved every season under him and the Lions hope that trend continues.

It all starts with Megatron.  Calvin Johnson has been the best WR in the NFL so far this year, bar none.  He has caught 41 passes for 679 yards (16.6 avg) with an amazing 10 TD catches.  You can double or even triple team Johnson, and Matt Stafford will get the ball in his hands.  Nate Burleson needs to be a little more consistent on the other side.  He has caught 22 passes for 222 yards (10.1 avg) with 1 TD grab so far this year.  Rookie WR Titus Young is starting to get more involved in the offense.  He has caught 15 passes f0r 209 yards (13.9 avg) so far this year.  I look for him to get more looks in the second half of the season.  Rashied Davis (1 rec, 14 yards) and Maurice Stovall (1 rec, 8 yards) so far this year as they have not be used much.  The Lions need one of their other receivers to step up and make opponents pay for double and triple teaming Calvin Johnson.

23-year old QB Matt Stafford has been outstanding so far this year for the Lions.  He has played in all five games for the Lions this year and he has completed 119 of 187 passes (63.6%) for 1,436 yards with 13 TD passes and 4 INTs (101.4 QB Rating).  Stafford also has carried the ball 5 times for 0 yards (0.0 ypc).  Stafford has a rifle right arm and he is adept at fitting the ball in small places down the field for big plays.  He is becoming a superstar right in front of our eyes this year.

Lions’ QB Matt Stafford has completed an amazing 16 of 20 passes (80%) to 30-year old WR Nate Burleson so far this year.  He has played in all four games for the Lions so far this year and he has caught 16 passes for 181 yards (11.3 avg).  He has now played in 20 games in his first two years with the Lions and he has caught 71 passes for 806 yards (11.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  With Calvin Johnson often drawing double teams, Burleson is almost always in one on one coverage.  Look for Stafford to continue throwing him the ball a lot the rest of the 2011 season.