FOX Sports Analyst Peter Schrager Says Lions’ Matt Stafford Is One Of Best QBs In NFL

by Pablo MenaOctober 20, 2016, 4:45 pmNews >

Peter Schrager, who has been FOX Sports’ sideline reporter for the past few Detroit Lions games, said Tuesday that he has been really impressed with Matthew Stafford, and even added, “Matt Stafford could be the best quarterback in football.”

FOX Sports Analyst Peter Schrager Says Lions’ Matt Stafford Is One Of Best QBs In NFL

Schrager discussed his opinion on “Good Morning Football.”

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The Lions (3-3) defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-28. Detroit will next host the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Despite Schrager’s opinion, statistics appear to suggest Stafford may not actually be as good as many other NFL quarterbacks this season, as the Detroit Free Press’s Dave Birkett tweeted:

Stafford has completed 146-of-212 passes for 1,648 yards this season, with 14 TD and four interceptions. His quarterback rating is 106.0 (third in the NFL), far above his career mark of 86.9.

In other Lions news, offensive lineman Brian Mihalik was on the Lions’ practice squad, but the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to their active 53-man roster on Tuesday morning.

Schrager says Stafford is excelling despite the Lions’ limitations at other offensive positions.

“This is the youngest offensive line in Detroit since 1979,” he says. “It’s all first-, second- or third-year guys.

“The running back situation: Ameer Abdullah, down. Theo Riddick, down. Dwayne Washington, down.”

Schrager was joined on the show by former Lions receiver Nate Burleson, who also lauded Stafford for his recent accomplishments.

“For so long he leaned on Calvin (Johnson) and rightfully so,” Burleson said. “When Calvin retired I said Matt Stafford would have a career year (in 2016) because he’s not leaning on the best receiver in the world, and everybody looked at me and they laughed.

“And I said wait and see. Because Matt Stafford will show that he’s more versatile than a guy that can just alley-oop a ball to Calvin Johnson. And he’s showing that right now with pieces that some would say aren’t as good as other teams’.”

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 16: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions looks for a receiver against the Los Angeles Rams during first half action at Ford Field on October 16, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)