Detroit Lions: History says Stafford and Caldwell running out of time

History says time is running out if the Detroit Lions are ever going to win a Super Bowl with the duo of Matthew Stafford and Jim Caldwell.

Are the Detroit Lions Super Bowl contenders in 2017? You’re not likely to find them on anyone’s list of favorites, which is an ominous sign for the long-term status of the Matthew Stafford-Jim Caldwell duo in Detroit.

As Football Outsiders’ Scott Kacsmar pointed out recently, five years is the most it has taken for a coach and starting quarterback combo to win their first Super Bowl together.

With Stafford entering his fourth season under the direction of Caldwell as head coach, the Lions are approaching “now or never” territory – at least according to history. Also according to history, don’t count on the Lions to be a trend-breaking team, especially when it comes to winning championships.

The Lions have enjoyed some stability under Caldwell that they lacked under previous head coaches as the team has two playoff berths in his three seasons in Detroit. However, the team didn’t look like any more of a championship contender in their Wild Card berth in year three of Caldwell than they did in their Wild Card berth in year one.

It was the front office that took the fall after Caldwell’s second season, but Caldwell’s time could be up after this season if the team doesn’t take at least one more step toward becoming a real contender.

While Caldwell’s future as part of Detroit’s current duo is very much up in the air, Stafford’s part is decidedly not. Already the holder of every team passing record of consequence (as little as that actually says…), Stafford is expected to sign a contract extension that will (temporarily) make him the highest paid player in the league.

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Barring the unforeseen, it will be up to Stafford and the next coach to try to bring home the first Super Bowl championship in team history.