If the Lions want to return to the playoffs, Matthew Stafford needs to stay on the field.
After ending last season on a four-game winning streak, there are high hopes that the Detroit Lions will be able to take a big step towards respectability.
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has done a masterful job of repairing the damage that was done to the franchise during Matt Millen's reign of incompetence.
Mayhew has assembled top notch young talent on both sides of the ball, including last season's defensive rookie of the year, Ndamukong Suh.
However, if the Lions are going to become a playoff team again, quarterback Matthew Stafford is going to have to stay on the field.
The Lions selected Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft and promptly signed him to a six-year contract that included $40 million dollars in guaranteed money.
The problem for the Lions is that Stafford hasn't been able to healthy. In his rookie year, Stafford played only 10 games. The Lions quarterback's second year was even worse as he only managed to play three games. The shoulder injury Stafford suffered in 2010 was serious enough to have renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr James Andrews operate on him in the off-season.
Stafford begins the 2011 season with a clean bill of health and is expected to not only play a full season, but to lead the Lions into playoff contention.
Friday night at Ford Field, all eyes were on Stafford as the Lions kicked off the pre-season against the Bengals.
To put it mildly, Stafford didn't disappoint.
Looking very sharp, Stafford shredded the Bengals defence, going 6-for-7 for 71 yards and two touchdowns as the Lions went on to win 34-3. His only incompletion came on a dropped pass from Jahvid Best that hit the running back right in the hands.
On Stafford's first touchdown pass, he went play-action before hitting stud receiver Calvin Johnson with a gorgeous pass in the end zone.
On his second touchdown, Stafford found Nate Burleson along the sideline. After initially ruling the pass incomplete, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz challenged the play. After watching the replay several times, it was clear that Stafford made an amazing pass and Burleson kept his feet in bounds.
After the game, a relaxed Stafford assessed how he played in his first live action since Nov. 9, 2010.
"It felt good, I went to the right places, guys made plays for me, caught the ball. I thought we did a great job up front; just an all around a good day on offence. We had a great tempo out there today. I feel like we were wearing their defence down even on that first drive; getting to the line of scrimmage, calling plays and executing" said Stafford.
In the two offensive series' Stafford took part in, he was barely even touched by the Bengals defence. Stafford says the credit goes to his offensive line and the Lions game plan going into the game.
"They have a pretty tough defensive line and our guys up front did a good job. We came into the game thinking about getting the ball out quick, getting the ball out of my hands and get into some other guys hands and let them make some plays."
Lions coach Jim Schwartz was thrilled and relieved to see Stafford play so well. What really impressed Schwartz was the way Stafford was able to make plays against a Bengals defence that was determined to stop him.
"They had a lot of different things thrown at him early in this game. A lot of different coverages, a lot of different blitzes, he wasn't just going against a vanilla game plan.," said Schwartz.
Detroit's franchise quarterback is well aware of how important it is for him to stay healthy this year if the Lions offence is going to reach its full potential. "I definitely want to be out there and want to be healthy. I think we are pretty exciting to watch when all the pieces are together" said Stafford.
The other "franchise" player on the Lions offence is receiver Calvin Johnson. Despite what ESPN's Chris Carter thinks, there aren't many people in the NFL who don't view Johnson as an elite level receiver.
Stafford said the touchdown pass to Johnson in the first quarter was a great example of the relationship the two players have worked hard to cultivate. "He and I have done a really good job of talking to each other, communicating and understanding where he thinks he can beat guys and where I can put the ball for him."
Johnson and Stafford hooked up in Atlanta during the lockout to help solidify their relationship. The more Stafford plays, the harder it will be for opposing defenses to stop him and Johnson. Of course the key to all of this is Stafford actually staying healthy during the regular season.
Now to put this into perspective, this was a pre-season game and the Lions opponent was the lowly Bengals. If Friday night's game at Ford Field is any kind of indication, Bengals fans could be in for a long year.
But having said all that, it is clear that now in his third season, Stafford is on the verge of taking his game to the next level. He has the weapons to work with and a strong knowledge of the Lions playbook.
All that's left for Stafford to do is to stay healthy and put all of his skills on display for an entire regular season. If that happens, the Lions have the potential to make life miserable for anyone who faces them.
