When last season fell apart on the Lions, many fingers of blame were pointed at quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Matthew Stafford: Part of the solution, not the problem

It's a natural reaction. Stafford is the QB. It is the most pressure-packed position in team sports. But the Lions' issues became so deep, even an immensely talented QB such as Stafford couldn't correct them. It would have been even worse without the three comeback victories during the first half of the season (vs. St. Louis, Philadelphia and Seattle) Stafford engineered..
Now it's about moving forward. Stafford is part of the solution, not the problem. It's why the three-year contract extension he agreed to fits. It runs out when he is 29. It's not like he is married to the Lions for the rest of his career. For the Lions, it's a long-term extension, but not forever. It's ideal from both sides.
Stafford is a very good NFL QB, and on the cusp of becoming a great one. Certainly, he is the best QB the Lions have had since Bobby Layne in the 1950s. There are no elements that are missing. It's just a matter of fine tuning his skills, bringing the pieces together around Stafford and that he remains reasonably injury free.