A lot has been made of Stafford having never won a playoff game. The Lions made the playoffs three times while Stafford was there, each time as the #6 seed at a time when only 6 teams from each conference made the playoffs. So, arguably the Lions were the worst team in the NFC playoffs each time. And as it turned out the worst team in the NFC playoffs lost all three times.
Sorry, I just can't see where that's such a big deal. In fact, I give Stafford credit for even getting a doormat organization to the playoffs three times. (As an organization they have not won a playoff game since 1957.)
I didn't know much about Stafford's playoff history before today, did a little research, happy to share with those who are interested.
2011 season.. The Lions won in weeks 14, 15, and 16 to clinch a playoff berth, then lost in week 17 at the 15-1 Packers to finish 10-6. The Lions posted an improved record for the third straight year (0-16, 2-14, 6-10, and then 10-6). It was their first winning record in 11 years, their first playoff berth in 12 years, and their first ten win season in 16 years.
The Lions finished second in the NFC North behind the Packers. As the #6 seed they got to go to #3 New Orleans, where they lost 45-28. New Orleans never punted the ball, gained a postseason record 626 yards, converted three fourth downs, and scored 35 points in the second half to defeat the Lions. [
en.wikipedia.org]
Stafford was 28 for 43, 380 yds, 3 TDs, 2 int. Passer rating 97.0
That Lions team had one pro-bowl player: Calvin Johnson
2014 season The Lions had a 4-game winning streak entering the final week of the season and had already cliched a playoff berth at that point. The 11-4 Packers played host to the 11-4 Lions, and GB took the division with a 30-20 victory. Finishing the season once again as the #6 seed the Lions went on the road to face #3 Dallas and lost 24-20.
Dallas faced an early 14-point deficit and trailed for most of the time in regulation, but after a controversial non-call on an apparent pass interference against their defense in the fourth quarter, quarterback Tony Romo led the team 59 yards for the game winning score. [
en.wikipedia.org]
Stafford was 28 for 42, 323 yards, 1 TD, 1 int. Passer rating 87.8
That Lions team had 5 pro-bowlers: Calvin Johnson, Glover Quin, Matthew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh, Golden Tate
2016 season Once again the Lions finished second in the NFC North to the Packers. Once again making the playoffs as the #6 seed they traveled to #3 Seattle and lost 26-6.
Stafford was 18 for 32, 205 yards, 0 TDs, 0 int. Passer rating 75.7.
The Lions had 1 pro bowl player that year: kicker Matt Prater
AlbaNY_Ram
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2022 10:10AM by AlbaNY_Ram.
