Detroit Lions finally parted ways with star quarterback Matthew Stafford earlier this year in exchange for Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff, two future 1st-round picks, and one 3rd-round pick. After 12 seasons with the Lions, Stafford will feature for the Rams in 2021 playing under new HC Sean McVay.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 3, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
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He finished his career with the Lions as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in Detroit. However, he failed to win a single playoff game with his former franchise despite making his debut back in 2009.
However, one can’t help but wonder if that stat would have changed had the Lions beaten NFC East big boys Dallas Cowboys in the 2014 Wild Card Round.
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Matthew Stafford recalls heart-breaking loss to Dallas Cowboys in 2014
Almost 7 years later, Matthew Stafford and the Lions faithful will still be reeling from that pass interference flag thrown against the Cowboys defense as they led by a 20-17 scoreline during their 2014 Wild Card Playoff encounter. The Cowboys ultimately won by a 20-24 margin, but the win left a bitter taste in Stafford’s mouth.
He recalled, “I think in 2014 when we went to Dallas for the playoffs. That was probably the most complete team I’ve been on, to be honest. I didn’t think we were good enough on offense. I thought we were good enough on defense.
“We were really good on defense that year. And it wasn’t that we didn’t have the players on offense, because we had great players. We just didn’t click, you know, when we needed to.
Matthew Stafford's 12 game-winning drives since 2014 leads the @NFL in that span. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/x7oxJgrA9b
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 23, 2016
“We didn’t play at a high enough clip on offense and it came back to get us. But I think 2014 was definitely the team that was most complete top to bottom, player-wise,” Stafford told the Detroit Free Press.
Stafford put in one hell of a display in 2014, earning him his first Pro Bowl berth. He finished the season with 4,257 passing yards and 22 TDs, with 11 INTs. Wide receivers, Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson each topped 1,000 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Glover Quin and Ndamukong Suh also won Pro Bowl berths in the defensive department.
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