Detroit Lions: How 0-16 Season Saved Lions Franchise | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Sophia Dalton And a child shall lead them.
Well, at 23 Matthew Stafford is hardly a child, but sadly it’s taken fifty years for the Lions to find a franchise quarterback to replace Bobby Layne.
Possibly the single most important outcome from the perfectly forgettable 2008 campaign was locking up the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft and signing Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.
When you are number one overall, you undoubtedly will have a tough road ahead, and becoming heir to the worst team in NFL history, Stafford was no different. As Timon sarcastically stated, "talk about your fixer upper."
Although the first two years were full of unfulfilled potential, via injuries to the knee and throwing shoulder, from their young signal caller; the third year finally paid back dividends with over 5,000 yards passing and 41 touchdowns, both third best in the league behind Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
Is there anybody left out there that still thinks fellow 2009 draft picks Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman can hold a candle to Magic Matt No. 9?
The firepower displayed this season was a result of several talented offensive weapons, but make no mistake; it is Stafford who is the most important piece of the artillery.
The NFL has evolved from a running back league into a quarterback league and the premium is on the man under center. Calvin Johnson is the best player on the 53-man roster, but he was a part of the 0-16 team; there’s only so much you can do from the wide receiver position.
Just like Isiah Thomas and Steve Yzerman before him; Matthew Stafford from the onset of his career is burdened with the task of turning a Detroit franchise from a proverbial loser into a winner.
Thomas kissed two Larry O’Brien trophies and Yzerman hoisted three of Lord Stanley’s Cups; although No. 9 did lead the Lions back to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, it remains to be seen if Stafford can bring Vince Lombardi’s trophy to the Lions’ Den for the first time in history.
But what is certain is that the Lions finally have their franchise quarterback.
