Is it time that quarterback gets the due he deserves? For years, even after putting up huge numbers, nothing Stafford ever did was good enough. It was theorized that he was a product of , benefitting from the greatne s of his receiver rather than getting credit for being a good quarterback. That was absurd, but now he's showing how absurd it was. In the final minute against the on Sunday, Stafford drove the Lions 75 yards, completing 3 of 6 pa ses for 61 of those yards, in the final minute to give the Lions a 20-17 victory. That victory has the Lions at 4-3 and Bob Lanier Jersey clearly in the playoff picture -- just 1 games out of first place in the NFC North. Matthew Stafford played his 100th game Sunday, and has more pa sing yards in his first 100 games than any pa ser in league history. Stafford has had his fair share of critics in his career, those saying he is little more than a stat quarterback who can't win big games. Yes, he's rolled up some big numbers, but he's been a steady, good player on some teams that weren't that talented. Heading into this season, Stafford averaged 28.8 touchdowns and 4,635 yards the past five seasons. That's impre sive. Of course the doubters said it was all because of Johnson. Stafford played his 100th game Sunday, and has more pa sing yards in his first 100 games than any pa ser in league history. Stafford is having an impre sive season, throwing 15 touchdown pa ses and four interceptions. The Lions don't have much of a running game either, which means most of it is on him. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has cut down on his pa sing this season, with Stafford on pace to throw 550 pa ses, which would be the lowest total since he took over as the starter. But his completion percentage is 68, which would be a career high. A gunslinger with a big arm, Stafford has taken his fair share of Marvin Williams Jersey chances that have backfired. That's why he's averaged 15.4 interceptions in the past five seasons. But even that number is down. When the Redskins went up 17-13 on a 19-yard run by with 1:07 left, it looked grim for the Lions. Then Stafford went to work. First he hit for 23 yards. Then he scrambled for 14, followed by a 20-yard shot to to the Washington 18. After two incomplete pa ses, he hit with a dart for the winning touchdown. Stafford's contract is up after the 2017 season. It isn't often that franchise pa sers go into the final year of their deal without a new one. So that made this season important from a contract standpoint for Stafford. So far he's putting the Lions in a corner. He's playing well, and he's winning. There is a chance that Stafford could end up being the highest-paid player in the league if he does get a new long-term deal. That's just the nature of the beast when a franchise pa ser is up. It's his time to take that spot. Is Stafford the best player in the league? No. Is he the best quarterback? No. But he is worth giving a long-term deal to keep him around for the Lions. He's still only 28 years old, which means there's a lot of good football left in that right arm. Stafford is a franchise pa ser. The final minutes of Sunday's game was proof of that again -- even with Calvin Johnson enjoying his retirement. More musings from around the NFL: The Dolphins, with two impre sive home victories in succe sive weeks over Pittsburgh and Buffalo, can now be considered in the wild-card chase. And a big part of the succe s goes to the running game, and not just running back . Yes, Ajyi has run for over 200 yards in succe sive weeks, cementing himself as the lead back, but it's the play of the line up D.J. Wilson Jersey front that has keyed it. Injuries impacted the line early in the season, but now they have the pieces back in place and the holes are opening. Ajayi ran for 213 yards to lead the Dolphins to a 28-25 victory over the on Sunday, but the holes were plentiful as the line did its job. It is a group filled with first-round picks, so this is what Miami expected to get. Now as they ready for a five-game stretch against teams without a winning record after their bye this week, that running game could get them into the playoff race as we head to December. Who would have Nik Stauskas Jersey thought that three weeks ago when they lost at home to Tenne see in ugly fashion? Give credit to coach Adam Gase for turning this thing around. It could have gone off the rails. This is the same Ajayi who was left home on the trip to Seattle opening week because he didn't win the starting job and responded poorly. Maybe Ajayi knew more than the coaching staff. He should have been playing based on what's happening now. The Vikings offensive line woes could be their undoing this season. They can't run it and they didn't protect on Sunday. That, plus poor special teams, cost them a game against the , their first lo s of the season. The Vikings have a great defense. There is no mistaking that. But the defense can't bail them out all the time. The margin for error is so small when you lean on a defense, and that didn't work out against the Eagles because of mistakes. The Vikings used a tackle rotation of , and newly signed , a player they picked up last week and a veteran who hasn't started a game since 2014. It didn't matter who played. They were a problem and Sam Bradford was sacked six times and lost a fumble. Coach Mike Zimmer called the line out after the game, using the word "soft." That's not something you want your coach saying after a game. The line has to pick it up soon. The Jaguars have major i sues. The quarterback isn't playing well -- and that's being kind -- and the team looks in disarray, which isn't a good thing for embattled coach Gus Bradley. The Jaguars lost at home to the on Sunday, and it wasn't close. Oakland dominated the game, winning 33-16. The Jacksonville offense is bad right now, and it's mainly because of quarterback . He has regre sed in a big way. He isn't good right now -- and there have to be questions about whether he's the long-term answer. After an impre sive 2015 season, his first full one as a starter, Bortles has looked lost for most of this season. His confidence level is awful right now. Jaylen Adams Jersey He threw a terrible end-zone pick early against Oakland that set the tone for the game. As for Bradley, his team looked out of control during the game. Veteran was thrown out after two unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties. On the sidelines, Bradley looked to be babying the player rather than telling him to get the hell off the field. That's a bad look. Later, was to sed for fighting -- and looked frustrated as he left the game. The Jaguars had 13 penalties for 112 yards and fumbled a punt inside the 10 and Bortles threw two picks. You won't win many games like that. This is a team with talent that isn't coming close to playing to it. They have a game Thursday at Tenne see, and if they don't win that, maybe change will be coming. I don't think it will be Bradley, but others