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The Detroit Lions were 0-16 three years ago.
Now they're in the playoffs, which is more proof of the most important lesson in the NFL:
We had a team win for the first time this season, ending the potential for a winless season.
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Get that franchise passer, and you will not only become a winner but a team that can stay there.
The Lions drafted Matt Stafford with the first overall pick in 2009. Now here they are in 2011, ready to play a postseason game for the first time since 1999. Detroit blew out San Diego on Saturday afternoon to earn that playoff berth. They did so behind the right arm of Stafford. He completed 29 of 36 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
Lions fans can point to coach Jim Schwartz and the team's tough defensive line as the reasons the Lions are in the playoffs, but the reality is it's because of Stafford.
In his first two years, Stafford struggled to stay on the field, starting only 13 games because of injuries. This season, he's played in all 15 games and has thrown for 4,528 yards with 36 touchdown passes. Those 36 put him behind only Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees and tie him with Tom Brady for most TD passes this season. That's special company for a third-year quarterback.
In his first two injury-plagued seasons, Stafford flashed star quality. But the injuries led to his being labeled as a fragile player.
This year, he fought through some minor injuries to lead the Lions to the playoffs.
I wasn't sure about the Lions before the season. Even though I liked Stafford, I thought they had offensive line issues and the secondary had problems.
But Stafford has been so good that they've worked through that, overcoming their deficiencies. It also helps that Stafford has Calvin Johnson on the other end of his passes.
The amazing thing is that the Lions are doing it without a running attack. They are 27th in rushing, further showing Stafford's value to this team.
After beating the Chargers, Schwartz said there would be a day when the franchise wouldn't just celebrate making the playoffs like they planned to do that night. That's because this is a team being built for so much more.
Stafford is the reason why.
The Lions, thanks to earning their first playoff berth in over a decade, get an A+ here to top our CBSSports.com Grades, once again proving that a franchise passer can turn even the bleakest franchises into winners.
| Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | Indianapolis Colts 19, Houston Texans 16 |
 | A | 1.96 | Colts: Just when everybody thought the Colts couldn't find a way to win, they did. Give credit to QB Dan Orlovsky and WR Reggie Wayne for some big-time late-game heroics. Wayne had promised a day earlier he'd deliver late, and he did. -- Tom James, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C- | 2.83 | Texans: The Texans had everything to play for. With a win, Houston could have made a case to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. But too many mental and physical mistakes cost the Texans dearly. Too many penalties, especially on the Colts' final drive of the game, proved to be the difference. -- Tom James, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | Baltimore Ravens 20, Cleveland Browns 14 |
 | C | 2.99 | Ravens: After a dominating first half that saw Baltimore leading 17-0, the Ravens came out expecting to run away with a victory. Instead, they played poorly in all phases and gave Cleveland a chance to win. A case can be made that Cleveland lost this game rather than the Ravens winning. -- Jason Butt, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.03 | Browns: This game was marred by coaching mistake after coaching mistake. Two costly play calls, one at the end of each half, prevented the Browns from scoring. DL Phil Taylor jumping offsides on fourth-and-2 late in the fourth summarized Cleveland's season. -- Jason Butt, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Buffalo Bills 40, Denver Broncos 14 |
 | A | 2.07 | Bills: Buffalo’s beleaguered defense put together its best performance of the season and led the Bills to their first win in eight weeks. Not only did the defense contain Tim Tebow and Willis McGahee on the ground, it made big plays in the passing game with four interceptions -- bringing two of those back for touchdowns. -- Mark Ludwiczak, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.29 | Broncos: Tebow-mania came to a screeching halt at Ralph Wilson Stadium. With the Broncos' running game held in check, Tim Tebow was unable to rally the troops and tossed four INTs en route to a blowout loss. The Broncos were outclassed in all three phases of the game. -- Mark Ludwiczak, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Carolina Panthers 48, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16 |
 | A- | 2.47 | Panthers: The Panthers are serving decisive notice for defensive coordinators around the NFL: they are an offensive dynamo in the making. Sparked by rookie Cam Newton and surrounded by dual-threat playmakers, the Panthers are averaging over 33 points in their past six games. Young defenders are also gaining invaluable experience. -- Jeff Hawkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D- | 1.73 | Buccaneers: The offseason can’t come soon enough for the Buccaneers. Losers of nine consecutive games after entering the season as NFC contenders, the Bucs constantly seem to harm their own cause. Committing four turnovers and playing passive defense Saturday against the Panthers, the Bucs were outscored 21-0 in the third quarter. -- Jeff Hawkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Cincinnati Bengals 23, Arizona Cardinals 16 |
 | B- | 2.53 | Bengals: Cincinnati's first three quarters were so good, they overshadowed a near-epic meltdown in the final quarter vs. the Cardinals. In a must-win scenario, however, the final result was all that mattered. The Bengals must find a way to play with the lead, but at least for one more week, those plays will matter in the playoff chase. -- Paul Dehner, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 1.97 | Cardinals: With slim playoff chances on the line, the Cards offense was brutal for three quarters. QB John Skelton threw three INTs, was sacked five times and completed fewer than half of his passes. RB Beanie Wells (53 yards) was held in check. The Cards tried to rally with 16 fourth-quarter points, but it was too little, too late. The defense was on the field far too long and gave up both 165 rushing yards and enough big plays to help the Bengals open an insurmountable lead. -- Paul Dehner, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Oakland Raiders 16, Kansas City Chiefs 13 |
 | B | 2.45 | Raiders: It was not a game that featured great performances by the Raiders. But it proved to be a gritty, division road victory that keeps alive the faint heart beat of a spot in the AFC tournament. Missing three starters, the Raiders were able to get just enough offense and relied on a strong defensive effort to shut down the Kansas City offense. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 1.73 | Chiefs: With a faint hope of a spot in the playoffs, the Chiefs showed up like they are looking forward to ending the season next week. Give the defense credit for making Oakland work. But the offense continued to be non-productive the closer they get to the end zone. Special teams had problems as well, giving up a 91-yard kickoff return and allowing a blocked punt. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 24 |
 | C | 2.48 | Patriots: The Patriots received an F for the first half, when they failed to record a point or stop the Dolphins, and an A for the second half when they scored a second-high 27 points and pitched a shutout defensively until there was 1:48 remaining. The Patriots survived with a win to stay on course for the No. 1 seed. In the end, that's all that matters. -- Greg Bedard, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C | 2.21 | Dolphins: The Dolphins had the game right there for them with a 17-0 halftime lead, but two turnovers -- a fumbled snap and an interception by Matt Moore -- set the course for a blown lead. The defense was spectacular in the first half as Patriots QB Tom Brady couldn't navigate Miami's pressure or coverage. But it was only half-good. Reggie Bush had his fourth-straight 100-yard rushing game (113), and Moore set a season high with 294 yards, but it wasn't good enough. -- Greg Bedard, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | NY Giants 29, NY Jets 14 |
 | B | 2.39 | Giants: This was the kind of game the Giants needed. The usually reliable offense struggled (Manning completed just 33 percent of his passes), but the previously unreliable defense responded with five sacks (including one safety), two interceptions and one fumble recovery. After early struggles on the ground, the Giants finished with 115 rushing yards on 26 carries. -- Lisa Zimmerman, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.16 | Jets: Both offense and defense started fast. But while the Jets controlled time of possession, their offense quickly fell apart with inaccurate passing by QB Mark Sanchez and receivers coming off their routes. The running game never got off the ground. The defense proved unable to stop Giants QB Eli Manning & Co. for any length of time. Special teams, while not committing any fatal errors, didn't force any big plays. Ten total penalties for 95 yards didn't help. -- Lisa Zimmerman, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Pittsburgh Steelers 27, St. Louis Rams 0 |
 | B | 2.66 | Steelers: They shut out a 2-12 team that has scored all of 15 TDs and previously averaged 11 points per game. In short: Not overly impressive. "This is a game we expected to win. People expected us to win," S Ryan Clark said. And they did, in workmanlike fashion. -- Chuck Finder, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 1.19 | Rams: The Rams allowed 169 yards rushing and amassed just 232 offensive yards of their own. They got shut out. They got Steven Jackson 1,000 yards. They got home for Christmas Eve dinner. That’s about their performance in a nutshell. One more game until the offseason. -- Chuck Finder, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Tennessee Titans 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 17 |
 | B | 2.59 | Titans: The Titans remained in playoff contention after winning their first game with a minus-3 turnover ratio since 2007. Matt Hasselbeck astutely picked up on the Jags' safeties tendency to roam towards the outside on several critical third downs, which freed up TE Jared Cook on crossing routes. Hasselbeck finished with 350 yards, 169 of which went to Cook. -- Matt Rybaltowski, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C- | 2.06 | Jaguars: The Jaguars fought throughout the second half and managed to keep it close, but overall the Titans outplayed Jacksonville much of the game. Credit RB Maurice Jones-Drew for surpassing the 100-yard mark for a second consecutive game, and rookie QB Blaine Gabbert had some good moments in the first half. But the Jaguars’ defense continues to be hurt by recent injuries and Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck was able to work the middle of the field effectively throughout the game. -- Matt Rybaltowski, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Minnesota Vikings 33, Washington Redskins 26 |
 | A- | 1.65 | Vikings: Losing your top RB and starting QB should be enough to stop a team. But it appeared to inspire the Vikings. Both RB Toby Gerhart and QB Joe Webb played crucial roles in leading Minnesota's offense to 33 points. Gerhart broke tackles and Webb's option runs hurt Washington. The defense forced two turnovers. Give the Vikings credit for playing well in a Christmas Eve game on the road. -- John Keim, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.34 | Redskins: The Redskins blew a chance to gather end-of-the-season momentum after a good win at New York a week ago. Instead, they let a 2-12 team beat them at home. The offense moved the ball, but settled for two short field goals and, as usual, turned it over twice. The defense allowed too many big plays, a problem that had not bothered them in recent games. -- John Keim, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Detroit Lions 38, San Diego Chargers 10 |
 | A+ | 2.73 | Lions: Detroit set four franchise records, and tied a fifth during what can only be described as a dominant performance. After five losses to playoff contenders this season Critics questioned Detroit’s ability to win against teams with postseason aspirations. By handing San Diego only their third December loss since 2006, Detroit proved they belong among the league’s elite. -- John Kreger, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.07 | Chargers: San Diego’s effort at Ford Field lacked the urgency and precision required of playoff teams. The Chargers saw their offensive game-plan dismantled, their defense ripped to shreds, and their postseason chances destroyed. Norv Turner entered Saturday's game with the chance to bolster his job security. He leaves Ford Field with a troubled franchise, and a very uncertain future. -- John Kreger, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7 |
 | B+ | 2.03 | Eagles: Despite learning they were eliminated from playoff contention just minutes after kickoff, the Eagles took care of business on both sides of the ball. QB Michael Vick was efficient and made plays with his arms and legs. The defense was stout against a Cowboys offense that lost Romo and sat RB Felix Jones. While this has turned out to be a disappointing season, the Eagles at least won three straight games and have a chance to salvage a poor start with a possible 8-8 record with a win next week against Washington. -- Nick Eatman, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.45 | Cowboys: The Cowboys basically shut it down after the combination of QB Tony Romo’s right hand injury and the Giants’ win over the Jets. A possible division-clinching win will have to wait until next week's game against the Giants. Throughout, the offense showed little life against the Eagles, barely avoiding its first shutout since 2003 and the first home shutout in 20 years. Other than two more sacks by DeMarcus Ware, it was a rather sluggish effort by the defense. -- Nick Eatman, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | San Francisco 49ers 19, Seattle Seahawks 17 |
 | A- | 2.94 | 49ers: Nothing about this game was easy for the 49ers, who were coming off a physical Monday Night win and playing on short rest against one of the hottest teams in the NFC, so style points or not, the 49ers deserve a lot of credit for this win, which keeps them in position to earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. After giving up big chunks of yardage in the first half, the defense stepped up big in the second half, allowing just 73 yards. -- John Boyle, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C- | 2.36 | Seahawks: The Seahawks did some things well, most impressively running the ball well against the league’s best rushing defense and blocked a punt that seemed to swing the momentum. That wasn’t enough, however, to overcome a subpar game from Seattle’s run defense, and a long stretch of offensive ineptitude in the second half. San Francisco is a formidable opponent, but for a team that was playing at home and still clinging to playoff hopes, this was a step back after playing so well in the second half of the season. -- John Boyle, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | Green Bay Packers 35, Chicago Bears 21 |
 | B+ | 3.05 | Packers: With questions and doubts lingering after their first loss of the season last week, there was a lot to like in Sunday’s 35-21 win over the Bears. Green Bay, now 14-1, was unstoppable on offense and true to form on defense, bending without breaking. QB Aaron Rodgers continued his record-book revisions; the bandaged-up offensive line played outstanding; the defense forced two interceptions; the team committed zero penalties. Now that’s a blueprint for winning. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C | 2.32 | Bears: The defense continued to experience trouble protecting against deep passes without injured free safety Chris Conte, and Bears DEs were non-factors despite facing substitute linemen. A respectable performance by QB Josh McCown left questions for the coaching staff about why he wasn't playing instead of Caleb Hanie a few weeks earlier. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Monday, Dec. 26, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | New Orleans Saints 45, Atlanta Falcons 16 |
 | 2.93 | Saints: | |
 | 2.27 | Falcons: | |
| GPA Key (updated through season) | ||
| A = 4.0 | A- = 3.7 | B+ = 3.3 |
| B = 3.0 | B- = 2.7 | C+ = 2.3 |
| C = 2.0 | C- = 1.7 | D+ = 1.3 |
| D = 1.0 | D- = 0.7 | |
