Lions Notes: Fun With Stats (Break All The Records Edition)

by Sean Yuille on Dec 26, 2011 3:42 PM EST in Detroit Lions Notes

Matthew Stafford broke the Lions single-season passing yards record on Saturday. He is now up to 4,518 yards passing this season, and there is still one game to play. The record was previously held by Scott Mitchell, who threw for 4,338 yards in 1995. (Stafford also owns the Lions single-season passing touchdowns record with 36 on the season. Mitchell previously held the record with 32 touchdowns in 1995.)
As noted by Andrew Siciliano, Stafford has thrown for 991 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions in the last three games.
Perhaps the Lions can petition the NFL to move to the AFC West next year. This season the Lions went 4-0 against the AFC West and outscored teams from the division by a total of 159-50. 39 percent of Stafford's touchdowns this season were in the four games against the AFC West (via Anthony DiPietro). As Jim Schwartz said on Monday, "I would like to point out that we did win the AFC West this year."
Calvin Johnson needs one more touchdown to set the Lions single-season record for touchdown catches. Currently he is tied with Cloyce Box at the top of the list with 15 touchdowns.

The Lions set a Ford Field attendance record this season with 509,949 total people attending games.
On Saturday, Jason Hanson passed both George Blanda and Matt Stover on the NFL career points list. Hanson is now fourth overall with 2,009 points. (Third place is John Carney with 2,062 points.)
Also on Saturday, Hanson kicked his 50th career field goal of 50 or more yards. No other player in the history of the NFL has accomplished that feat.
Hanson has attempted and made 50 extra points this season, which is a new franchise record. The old record was 48 in 1995 and was also held by Hanson.
This year's Lions team has already eclipsed the 1995 team's franchise record for the most touchdowns in one season.
Brandon Pettigrew, who is up to 76 catches this year, has broken the Lions single-season record for catches by a tight end. The old record was 71 and was set by Pettigrew last season.
As CBS noted on Saturday, the last time the Lions made the playoffs (in 1999), Stafford was only 11 years old. Hanson, on the other hand, was 29. (I was only nine, by the way.)

(For those who didn't catch it, yes, I was referencing a meme in the headline.)

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Comments

The sad thing is

Pettigrew could have broken a hundred if he didn’t keep dropping passes in the middle of the field. He’s been good lately, though.

by mcivor on Dec 26, 2011 4:23 PM EST reply actions

Agree 100%

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by KDawg on Dec 26, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

I think he's looked a little better every year.

Every receiver has some drops. He has less drops then Burleson.

by Eddie Apoc on Dec 26, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

He is definitely improving

And I love his athleticism and blocking abilities. He could be one of the greatest of all time, with Stafford as the QB.

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by KDawg on Dec 26, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

The amount his blocking has improved is amazing to me.

by Eddie Apoc on Dec 26, 2011 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Hands up anyone who still thinks we should have taken Oher?

Backus + P-Zilla > Oher. No further questions.

by mcivor on Dec 26, 2011 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

He is definitely one of the best TEs ever for the Lions.

He does have the occasional chop block but I’ll take it as long as he keeps catching TDs.

"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
"Fairies don’t win championships. Bad Ass Mofo’s Do!"- Kevinz418

by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Dec 27, 2011 12:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

The occasional "that wasn't really a chop block, chop block"

We seem to get one of those per game.

President of the Eric Wright fan club, but I love me some Aaron Berry.

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by Bighaircut on Dec 27, 2011 2:55 AM EST up reply actions

I doubt that. He has fewer drops than Jermichael Finley this seaon.

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Dec 26, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

I was a year out of highschool in 99

http://twitter.com/#!/rumbulls

by CLF on Dec 26, 2011 5:05 PM EST reply actions

I was only 36 years old in 99.

I was just a kid. :-)

2013 Superbowl Champion Detroit Lions
R.I.P Tom Kowalski. You will be sorely missed.

by LionTarHeel on Dec 26, 2011 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Me too

This is our Year!!!!!

by Ace27 on Dec 26, 2011 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

me 3

by SanDiegoMick on Dec 26, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Everyone should petition to be in the AFC West.

“Where you can go .500, no matter how bad you are!”

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Dec 26, 2011 5:22 PM EST reply actions

What is it with Western conferences?

Can we just trade the AFC and NFC Wests to Canada for their teams?

by mcivor on Dec 26, 2011 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

I suppose I mean divisions, but whatever

by mcivor on Dec 26, 2011 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe, but to the credit of the AFC West, they won’t have a losing record. It was just sad 7-9 got the Seahawks into the playoffs last year.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Dec 26, 2011 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Can you really tell the difference between an 8-8 record and 7-9?

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Dec 26, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

If Hanson played for 5 more years he'd be right there with Morten and Gary Anderson for most points all-time

He’s still hitting 50-yarders at age 40, maybe he’s got enough left in the tank to do it.

Formerly WestSideLionsFan. Fan of all Detroit sports teams.

by WalterM on Dec 26, 2011 5:42 PM EST reply actions

if hanson wanted to play 5 more, I think he could do it

he still can rock the ball with great accuracy

by jay_8118 on Dec 26, 2011 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

Anything to do with Gunny?

He was with the chiefs in the aft west for however long and it looked like we had their number, aside from the raiders who have brought in a fairly new regime

by dalrymple87 on Dec 26, 2011 5:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Doesn't seem likely

There’s probably not a single player left on that roster from when Gun was the coach. If there are, it’s only a couple.

Formerly WestSideLionsFan. Fan of all Detroit sports teams.

by WalterM on Dec 26, 2011 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

My bad, totally forgot he was the D Coord til 2008

Even so, the Chiefs went all Pats west with their GM, coach, and personnel. Pretty far removed from when Gun was there.

Formerly WestSideLionsFan. Fan of all Detroit sports teams.

by WalterM on Dec 26, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

Thank's Sean. This is a great piece to reflect on, to truley understand how special this year was.

by jay_8118 on Dec 26, 2011 6:45 PM EST reply actions

I can't be the only one asking this

Who the fuck is Cloyce Box?

by Hurr Durr on Dec 26, 2011 6:57 PM EST reply actions

He played in the era where he was pretty much the only receiver on the field.

And he still got single coverage.

Formerly WestSideLionsFan. Fan of all Detroit sports teams.

by WalterM on Dec 26, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

Pandora's brother is who Cloyce might be

by SanDiegoMick on Dec 26, 2011 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

I was only 4 in '99...

didn’t start watching football regularly until about 2000…Me and my poor life choices.

Tengo el sangre del tigre.

by beef99 on Dec 26, 2011 7:13 PM EST reply actions

The really sad thing is

how many fans here on PoD were saying that Jason Hanson’s career was over.

Look at what happened to Dave Rayner, the guy that they were all ready to dump Jason for!

Other than that, it’s great to actually have a good QB holding the Lions passing records!

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Dec 26, 2011 7:16 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Having said that, I want to direct a "Tebow" toward Greg Landry.

My favorite QB from the days of my youth..

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Dec 26, 2011 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

My only concern with him is his injuries.

by Eddie Apoc on Dec 26, 2011 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

Greg Landry's injuries? I don't think they're relevant now. ;^)

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Dec 26, 2011 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

Damn Sean

I had no idea you were also a 9gager. My respect for you just increased by another 10x

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by Latif Masud on Dec 26, 2011 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Just so you guys know....

I am Anthony DiPietro, as mentioned in the story. I don’t post on here a ton, but people from the past probably recognize my Twon82 moniker. Just wanted to connect the dots. This is by far the best Detroit Lions website…Sean is the best managing editor….and this is the only place I go for Lions news.

USE THE SCHWARTZ!!!

by Twon82 on Dec 26, 2011 7:56 PM EST reply actions