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Notes: Matthew Stafford improved team’s win probability more than any other quarterback in 2016

One stat makes a tangible argument for Matthew Stafford as the league’s MVP.

Detroit Lions v New Orleans Saints Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
  • Win Probability Added (or WPA) is a statistic that takes every individual play from a player and adds up how much each play helped or hurt a team’s probability to win a game (you can read here on how it is specifically calculated). Matthew Stafford led all NFL quarterbacks in WPA in 2016:

  • I joined Fox Sports Radio in New Mexico to help preview Lions-Seahawks:

  • If you’re trying to grasp at straws for some optimism on the Lions’ chances this weekend, may I present to you this:

  • To borrow a catchphrase from MLive’s Kyle Meinke, Sam Martin: Punt God:

  • Former NFL quarterback Warren Moon had some very nice things to say about Matthew Stafford:

  • It’s “Detroit vs. Everybody” in this Lions-Seahawks trailer from NBC:

3. Stick with the split-zone run scheme on offense

Why it's important: Over the past two games, Lions running back Zach Zenner has rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries (4.25 yards per carry). And the top scheme I'm seeing on film? It's the split zone. A downhill run (with Zenner) that complements the Lions' West Coast passing concepts and also leads to play-action opportunities.

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