It’s been a few years since Matthew Stafford left Detroit, but the love and respect from Lions fans has never really faded. He gave everything he had to the franchise and has since gone on to win a Super Bowl with the Rams—something he never got to sniff in Motown. But a recent playoff prediction might test even the most loyal fans’ emotions.
According to Pro Football Network, the Lions are once again poised for a big regular season, earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket. That’s the good news. The bad news? They’re predicted to be bounced from the playoffs in the Divisional Round… by none other than Stafford and the Rams.
Ouch.
It would be a nightmare scenario—Stafford walking into Ford Field and ending another Lions postseason run, this time with new weapon Davante Adams and a retooled Rams offense. PFN points to changes on Detroit’s coaching staff and the loss of key linemen Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler as reasons the Lions could fall short. They also praise the Rams’ evolving young defense and the leadership of Sean McVay.
No doubt, losing Ragnow hurts. But the Lions aren’t exactly helpless in the trenches. Between veteran addition Trystan Colon and the versatile Graham Glasgow, Detroit has options. This team has proven it can develop offensive linemen and overcome injuries.
So yes, the idea of Stafford sending Detroit home early—again—is painful. But predictions are just that: predictions. And if this Lions team has shown us anything over the last two years, it’s that they don’t fold easily. Don’t count them out just yet.
Stafford’s Return to Detroit Could Spell Disaster in New Playoff Prediction
