National Football League

Player of the week: Lions' Matthew Stafford

Published Nov. 3, 2010 11:13 p.m. ET

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Matthew Stafford does things you can't coach.

The Detroit Lions quarterback can loft a pass deep downfield to hook up with a receiver in stride, throw to a teammate's hip in the end zone if that's where he's aiming, and lead an NFL team with the cool confidence that comes naturally for some athletes.

''It's the same way with any great player, and I don't want to put Matt in that category yet, but he's well on his way to becoming a great player,'' Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesday. ''But there's something about some players whose ability sort of transcends coaching. It's one thing to be able to draw it up and be able to say something, and there's some things that you either have or you don't and no matter how much you work at.''

Stafford threw four go-ahead touchdowns in the second half last Sunday, lifting the Lions to 37-25 win over the Washington Redskins in his first game since Week 1.

If he led Calvin Johnson on the winning pass with 3:12 left, the ball likely wouldn't have made it into the receiver's hands, so he aimed for his left hip and he connected.

''Yeah, I meant to,'' Stafford said. ''The guy was playing inside and he had his back turned to me. I thought that was the best place to put it for Calvin to go get it.''

Stafford's next challenge seems stiffer.

Detroit hosts the New York Jets, whose coach Rex Ryan doesn't think Stafford and Company can keep up their pace of scoring 38 points a game against a defense he considers the NFL's best.

''I don't believe that's going to happen,'' Ryan said. ''Hey, they could come out and prove me wrong, but I doubt it.''

The Lions (2-5) are starting to quiet some of their doubters because Stafford isn't their only first-round pick panning out.

Ndamukong Suh, selected No. 2 overall this year, has 6 1/2 sacks and might have a shot to have the most by a first-year defensive lineman. Calvin Johnson, drafted with the No. 2 pick in 2007, is averaging an NFL-high 7.1 points a game among non-kickers and was voted the NFC's offensive player of the week.

Detroit drafted tight end Brandon Pettigrew and running back Jahvid Best in the first round the past two years, after Stafford and Suh, and they have also validated the team's decisions, particularly Best. He has rushed for four touchdowns and caught 36 passes, scoring once more.

Finally, Detroit has taking advantage of having high slots in April after choosing busts such as Joey Harrington and Charles Rogers.

''You've got to really credit Martin Mayhew, the GM, and Jim Schwartz for picking guys that fit their type of system,'' Jets offensive tackle Damien Woody, who played in Detroit from 2004-07. ''The draft picks that they're picking are really making it happen for them: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Suh and Pettigrew, Best.

''They've been slowly accumulating talent on that team.''

Stafford got off to a slow start Sunday while playing for the first time since separating his right shoulder in Week 1. He slightly underthrew Johnson in the end zone on Detroit's second drive, and again when he got behind the secondary in the second quarter.

If he threw the first one a couple feet higher and the other a few feet longer, Stafford might've had a spectacular touchdown total.

''It was almost six,'' he said.

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