Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Lions 38-10. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to quarterback play, the Green Bay Packers are fortunate. Not only have the Packers transitioned from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another, but they also possess the top passer in a division stocked with talented arms. The NFC North is one of only two divisions where every starting quarterback has led their team to the playoffs. In the modern NFL where passing and the ability to defend the pass are the strongest indicators of wins and losses, it’s important for Green Bay to keep tabs on the quarterbacks it sees most often.

With that in mind, let’s profile the resume and project the future for one of the NFC North’s other quarterbacks.

So without further adieu, the final NFC North quarterback under the microscope is…

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Ford Field. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Matthew Stafford

Team: Detroit Lions

Age: 25

Experience: 45 games, 44 starts

Resume: Matthew Stafford is the NFC North’s most intriguing case study. Stafford’s first two seasons were defined by injury, but both included extremely promising moments.

In his first complete season as a starter, Stafford exploded for a jawdropping 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns. Yet Stafford’s more impressive statistic was 6.2 – the percentage of his passes that went for touchdowns. For context, the only passers that year who exceeded that figure were Tom Brady (6.4 percent), Drew Brees (7 percent), and Aaron Rodgers (9 percent).

Stafford’s touchdown percentage would have been top five in any of his four seasons in the NFL. Helping matters further, Stafford threw 2.56 touchdowns for every interception that year. It seemed as though his incredible physical gifts were finally coalescing with his mental preparation and that Stafford would soon be entering the pantheon of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.

And then came the 2012 season.

While Stafford narrowly missed another 5,000-yard season, virtually all of his other metrics regressed considerably. Stafford’s touchdown total was more than halved while his interceptions went up. He passed for his worst completion percentage since his rookie year, and averaged a Christian Ponder-like 6.8 yards per attempt.

Yet the most damning metric was Stafford’s touchdown percentage. It dropped from 2011’s impressive 6.2 percent to a paltry 2.8 percent, bad enough to finish bottom five in the league. The only players with worse figures were rookies and Matt Cassel. This comes at a time when the Detroit Lions are looking to extend Stafford’s rookie deal. How the Lions grade Stafford at this point in his career is anyone’s guess.

Dec 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) congratulates wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field. Falcons won 31-18. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Projections: Despite his 2012 woes, Matthew Stafford projects very well. If there is one quarterback who can take Rodgers’ title as the best quarterback in the NFC North, unlikely as that may be, it’s Stafford.

He possesses the strongest arm in the division, and with Calvin Johnson just entering his prime, there is no reason to expect Stafford won’t be able to return to his high volume, high efficiency form. Detroit has no plans to bring in any competition, and probably couldn’t do so if they wanted to with their cap situation.

With the Minnesota Vikings in a war of words with Percy Harvin and the Chicago Bears entering the first year with a new head coach, there are games up for grabs. Frankly, even the Packers could take a step back this season with their losses on offense.

Stafford should perform much closer to his 2011 form, and if he does so the Lions are a real threat to challenge for a playoff spot and perhaps the division.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

Oct 16, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best (44) looks for running room in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber- US PRESSWIRE

If it’s true, the Detroit Lions may have suffered a huge blow to its potent offense as Jahvid Best, the Lions’ first round draft pick in 2010, may have played his final game.

As reported by Sports-Kings today, Best, who has a long history of concussions, including two in his first two pro seasons, won’t be back with the Lions and may never play football again.

He left the week six game against the San Francisco 49ers (a loss at home) and was out for the remainder of the year. Though the LIons’ offense exploded via the arm of Matthew Stafford and the pass-catching of all-world wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the running game is an important part of the Lions’ offense and losing Best does not bode well for Detroit.

Apparently he hasn’t figured out that the fans of the Green Bay Packers are among the league’s most knowledgeable, dedicated and devoted to their team.

Yes, they wear things like cheese heads and take their shirts off to enjoy the game … and it doesn’t matter if it’s a preseason game in August or the final game of the regular season in January.

So, it’s awfully unusual that Raiola would go on record with this statement:  ”It looks like they live a simple life. They love the Pack and that’s pretty much it.”

Yes, Mr. Raiola, we do love the Packers, but we’re a little more sophisticated than you might think.

Gosh, there might be lawyers, doctors and teachers in the stands. There may even be rocket scientists, economists, and philosophers enjoying the game in the wide open air of Lambeau Field.

I can guarantee this … that these fans are far from simple and the team they follow is far from incompetent.

Sometimes stupid people say stupid things.

No, I take that back. Stupid people always say stupid things.

I guess I would have to say that Mr. Raiola isn’t too smart.

Ndamukong Suh is reported to have been suspended for two games, pending possible appeal.

We all knew the punishment for Ndamukong Suh was coming. Some speculated as heavy of a penalty as suspension for the remainder of the season for his stomping of Green Bay Packers right guard Evan Dietrich-Smith in the Thanksgiving Day game won by the Packers.

We suspected, as did many others, that it would be at least a couple of games.

The two-game suspension is what is being reported.

While Suh has three days to file an appeal for the suspension of two games, we certainly hope he doesn’t. The entire world knows what he did and no matter how many attorneys and no matter how much he apologizes, it’s not going to change the perception that he is a bully and a dirty player.

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Tony Dungy, photographed when he was still coach of the Colts, thinks the Detroit Lions organization should shoulder some of the blame for Ndamukong Suh's behavior on the field.

Tony Dungy, the former NFL coach-turned-broadcaster with NBC Sports, has come out and said that the Detroit organization should shoulder some of the blame for the actions of Ndamukong Suh.

Suh’s stomping of Green Bay Packers right guard Evan Dietrich-Smith has raised the ire of many fans, players and coaches around the league and will result in a fine and probably a suspension from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

In addressing the situation, Dungy said on the Dan Patrick Show, “I really have to fault the Detroit organization. I think they really could have stopped this.”

No doubt the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianpolis coach is right. Suh has been a loose canon since his rookie season last year and well before that in college and even high school, according to some.

We here at Lombardiave.com feel that a suspension of at least two games is warranted for Suh and not only because of this latest incident against a Packers player. The fines for several other dirty incidents raises a red flag above the normal “aggressive” play.

A message needs to be sent loud and clear to Mr. Suh and it starts with the commissioner and should be emphasized by the Lions organization, as Dungy says. Dungy is absolutely correct. Encouraging a player to use their skills to be aggressive is one thing. For that player to take it to the lowest level is uncalled for and requires swift and immediate action.

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Ok, so does Deion Sanders know more than we think he knows?

Maybe Deion Sanders knows more than most would expect.

You see, it was one month ago that Sanders went on record saying he felt the Bears had a better chance of challenging the Packers for the North Division title or at least to take over second best in the division.

At that time, Sanders was heard on the NFL Network saying that he “loved the Packers,” but it was the Lions who got a tongue lashing at the time … the other hosts on the program attacked Sanders and questioned his logic.

Well, after the last couple of weeks, Sanders is all of a sudden looking like a genius. With the Lions dropping two straight in the friendly confines of Ford Field, it looks like this team is simply ordinary. Losing to San Francisco and Atlanta, the Lions had little teeth in either its offense or defense.

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NFL Insider Adam Schefter said the information came by two league sources.

The trade of Brown came on deadline day and, in the least appeared to be a quick fix for the Lions. Brown could have been an added weapon to an already potent offensive attack.

Lions rising star Jahvid Best has had concussion issues, and is uncertain to play this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. 

When healthy, Best has been very effective as a runner and receiver.

Through six games he had 84 touches for 390 yards – a 4.6 yard per carry.

Brown, as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, had just 13 carries for 38 yards – a 2.9 yard average.

How the lions fare in their running game now lies on the shoulders of Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams against Atlanta and Schwartz said he likes “a lot” about both.

Not only will he be spilling information galore if he signs with the Lions, but that is the team the Packers will most likely battle for supremacy of the NFC North. Yeah, the Vikings and Bears will be competitive, but it’s the Lions that scares me the most.

Any type of advantage will be huge when the two teams meet this year.

Of course, the Packers will adjust to specific situations, but any information Barnett would be able to provide could hurt the Packers.

It was inevitable that there were teams out there interested in Barnett’s services. The longtime Packer certainly has a couple of years still left in the tank … if he can stay healthy. And given the situation with Brandon Chillar being cut because of the off-season injury he suffered, it places the Packers in a predicament, with a dearth of inside linebackers … and I don’t see the team jumping at any opportunity to shore up the position.

We’ll see what transpires in the next few weeks, but should the Packers suffer any injuries among linebackers, it will be a huge hit.

As for Barnett, as a person, we wish him best … as a Detroit Lion, we hope the Packers find a way to run him over.

The Lions may be pushing the top teams in the NFL North for the crown this year, but it may be a bit premature for talk of a playoff spot ... something that has come from the lips of some of that team's players. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It could be the kiss of death or it could be simple confidence.
Riding high off their four game winning streak at the end of last season, Detroit Lions players aren’t shy about making prognostications …
Some have gone on record saying the P word: (more…)