Elite? Or not elite?
That's the word when it comes to quarterbacks, and it seems Matthew Stafford has always lingered just outside the divide.
He was on the verge of breaking through in 2011, then took a couple steps back in the years that followed. He approached it again from 2016-2017, only to regress once more in 2018.
Stafford's back to playing at a high level this season, his first under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and it seems the NFL is taking notice. Matt LaFleur, for his part, has always been a believer.
The Packers head coach is wary of Stafford and Detroit's passing attack ahead of Monday night's clash at Lambeau Field.
"They have a lot of playmakers. They’re pushing the ball down the field. Matthew Stafford, I think he is an elite quarterback. He is a natural thrower. He is extremely accurate. I haven’t really gone against him too many times on teams that I’ve been on, but we all watch the same tape, and I’ve always thought he was an elite quarterback," LeFleur said Thursday.
The deep ball has long been one of Stafford's strengths, but it was largely forgotten in Jim Bob Cooter's offense. Bevell has reintroduced it, and Stafford has shined. He's averaging career highs in both yards per attempt (8.0) and air yards per attempt (8.6) through four games. He's thrown nine touchdowns to two picks. His passer rating of 102.6 ranks eighth in the NFL.
LaFleur, a longtime quarterbacks coach in college and the NFL before becoming a head coach, said an elite quarterback "is just somebody that when he’s on your team, you’re confident that you have a chance each and every week to go in and win the football game.”
It's hard to say Stafford inspired that feeling last year. The two years before, most certainly. And this year? Sure, so far. Whether that puts Stafford in the category of 'elite' is up for debate, and LaFleur wouldn't say how many other quarterbacks hold that label.
"I know he’s one of them, though," LaFleur said.
So is Aaron Rodgers, of course. And there's no such debate in his case. The two-time MVP has helped the Packers to a 4-1 start, and will look to continue his dominance over Detroit Monday night. He's 7-1 against the Lions at Lambeau Field over his career.
If some NFL coaches worry about their quarterbacks on Sundays, the rookie LaFleur isn't one of them.
"Yeah," he said, "I feel like our guy is pretty good.”