detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

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• He became the fi rst player in NFL history to start the season
off by catching at least 2 touchdowns in each of the
team’s fi rst four games.
Became the fi rst player in NFL history to start the season off
by catching at least 2 touchdowns in each of the team’s fi rst
three games.
• Johnson had 6 receiving touchdowns for the month of September
which is the most receiving touchdowns by a Lions
receiver in the fi rst month of a season. The previous best
was 5 touchdown grabs by WR Leonard Thompson in September
1984.
QB MATTHEW STAFFORD
Had a record setting performance in Detroit’s postseason loss
at New Orleans (1/7), setting a new franchise playoff mark for
passing yards (380), while tying for the second-most touchdown
passes (3) and having the second most pass attempts
(43) and completions (28).
Set team single-season records in attempts (663), completions
(421), yards (5,038), completion percentage (63.5),
touchdowns (41) and passer rating (97.2).
One of only three quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Tom Brady)
to fi nish in the Top-5 in all six major passing categories
in 2011. Staff ord was 2nd in completions (421), 3rd in passing
yards (5,038), 3rd in touchdown passes (41), 5th in passer
rating (97.2), 5th in completion percentage (63.5) and 1st in
attempts (663).
Fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards
in a season (QB Drew Brees 5,069 in 2008 and 5,476 in 2011),
Tom Brady (5,235 in 2011) and Dan Marino (5,084 in 1984).
Staff ord’s 5,038 passing yards ranks fi h all-time in NFL history.
Only Staff ord (3rd season) and Marino (2nd season) have
ever accomplished this feat with 3 or less years of experience.
With 5 touchdown passes at Green Bay (1/1) in the fi nale,
Staff ord became the fi rst quarterback in NFL history with
three games with at least 5 touchdown passes in his fi rst
29 career games.
• First quarterback in NFL history to throw 5 touchdown
passes twice in his fi rst 23 career games
First quarterback in team histroy to lead team to four
13+-point comebacks in a season, 3 17+point comebacks in
a season and 20+-point comebacks in back-to-back games.
• Staff ord joined Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne as the only
quarterbacks in team history to lead the Lions back to victories
from 24-point defi cits. Staff ord has led the team’s
only 24-point comeback on the road.
Brees (2011), Marino (1984) and Staff ord are the only quarterbacks
in NFL history with 5,000+ passing yards and 40+
touchdowns.
Second youngest quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000
yards and 30 touchdown passes in a season. He is second only
to QB Dan Marino (1984). Staff ord did so at the age of 23
years, 10 months and 11 days, and Marino accomplished it at
23 years, 2 months and 17 days.
• One of only three quarterbacks 23 years or younger (Dan
Marino, 5,084 in 1984; Drew Bledsoe, 4,555 in 1994) in NFL
history to throw for 4,500 yards in a season. Only Marino
and Staff ord reached 5,000 yards.
In NFL single-season history, Staff ord’s 2011 season totals
are third in attempts (663), fi h in completions (421), fi h in
yards (5,038), tied for seventh in touchdowns (41). Among
passers with 600 attempts, his passer rating (97.2) is the third
highest, and among passers with 575 it ranks sixth.
Seven games in 2011 with 3+ touchdowns, which is a new
franchise record. He passed QB Bobby Layne (6, 1951) for the
team record.
Four games with 4+ touchdowns was also a team record.
Over the season’s fi nal 5 regular season games (Dec./Jan.), he
was 145-of-220 (65.9 pct) for 1,919 yards with 15 touchdowns
and a rating of 110.4. Staff ord’s 1,919 passing yards set a
NFL record for passing yards in December (January), breaking
the previous mark of 1,830 yards (Kurt Warner,2001).
STAFFORD’S RANKING IN HISTORY
NFL Leaders, Single-Season Attempts
Rk Player Year Tm Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Drew Bledsoe 1994 NE 691 400 4555 57.9 25 27 73.6
2 Peyton Manning 2010 Ind 679 450 4700 66.3 33 17 91.9
3 Matthew Staff ord 2011 Det 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
NFL Leaders, Single-Season Completions
Rk Player Year Tm Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Drew Brees 2011 NO 657 468 5476 71.2 46 14 110.6
2 Peyton Manning 2010 Ind 679 450 4700 66.3 33 17 91.9
3 Drew Brees 2010 NO 658 448 4620 68.1 33 22 90.9
4 Drew Brees 2007 NO 652 440 4423 67.5 28 18 89.4
5 Matthew Staff ord 2011 Det 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
NFL Leaders, Single-Season Passing Yards
Rk Player Year Tm Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Drew Brees 2011 NO 657 468 5476 71.2 46 14 110.6
2 Tom Brady 2011 NE 611 401 5235 65.6 39 12 105.6
3 Dan Marino 1984 Mia 564 362 5084 64.2 48 17 108.9
4 Drew Brees 2008 NO 635 413 5069 65 34 17 96.2
5 Matthew Staff ord 2011 Det 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
NFL Leaders, Single-Season Passing Touchdowns
Rk Player Year Tm Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Tom Brady 2007 NE 578 398 4806 68.9 50 8 117.2
2 Peyton Manning 2004 Ind 497 336 4557 67.6 49 10 121.1
3 Dan Marino 1984 Mia 564 362 5084 64.2 48 17 108.9
4 Drew Brees 2011 NO 657 468 5476 71.2 46 14 110.6
5 Aaron Rodgers 2011 GB 502 343 4643 68.3 45 6 122.5
6 Dan Marino 1986 Mia 623 378 4746 60.7 44 23 92.5
7t Matthew Staff ord 2011 Det 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
7t Kurt Warner 1999 StL 499 325 4353 65.1 41 13 109.2
STAFFORD IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Lions Leaders, Completions-Season
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Jon Kitna 2006 596 372 4208 62.4 21 22 79.9
Lions Leaders, Completion Percentage-Season**
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Jon Kitna 2007 355 561 4068 63.3 18 20 80.9
3 Eric Hipple 1986 305 192 1919 63.0 9 11 75.6
Lions Leaders, Passing Yards-Season
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Scott Mitchell 1995 583 346 4338 59.3 32 12 92.3
Lions Leaders, Passing Touchdowns-Season
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rate
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Scott Mitchell 1995 583 346 4338 59.3 32 12 92.3
Lions Leaders, Passing Rating-Season**
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Scott Mitchell 1995 583 346 4338 59.3 32 12 92.3
** League Qualifi er: 14 att/Team Gm (224 att/16 Gm)
Lions Leaders, Attempts - Season
Rk Player Year Att Cmp Yds Pct TD Int Rtg
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 663 421 5038 63.5 41 16 97.2
2 Jon Kitna 2006 596 372 4208 62.4 21 22 79.9
Lions, Leaders, Career 300-Yard Passing Games
Rk Player G Years
1 Matthew Staff ord 9 2009-
2 Scott Mitchell 8 1994-98
Lions Leaders, 300-Yard Passing Game - Season
Rk Player G Year
1 Matthew Staff ord 8 2011
2 Scott Mitchell 5 1995
Lions Leaders, Passing Touchdown - Game
Rk Player TD Opp Date
1t Gary Danielson 5 Min 12/9/78
1t Matthew Staff ord 5 Cle 11/22/09
1t Matthew Staff ord 5 Car 11/20/11
1t Matthew Staff ord 5 at GB 1/1/12
Lions Leaders, 4+ Passing TDs in Game
Rk Player G Years
1 Matthew Staff ord 6 2009-
2 Bobby Layne 3 1950-58
Lions Leaders, Career Games with 3+ TD Passes
Rk Player G Years
1 Bobby Layne 12 1950-58
2t Scott Mitchell 9 1994-98
2t Matthew Staff ord 9 2009-
Lions Leaders, Games with 3+ TD Passes in Season
Rk Player G Year
1 Matthew Staff ord 7 2011
2 Bobby Layne 6 1951
Lions Leaders, Games 100.0 Passer Rating in Season
Rk Player Year G
1 Matthew Staff ord 2011 10
2 Gary Danielson 1984 6