Lions’ Matthew Stafford gets raise, new contract despite rough year

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford just got a three-year contract extension and a raise in the neighborhood of $4.5 million a year.

Now the fifth-year quarterback needs to show he’s worth the investment, meaning returning to the stellar form he showed in 2011 before taking a drastic downturn last season.

The extension Stafford signed Wednesday will keep him with the team through 2017. The three-year deal is worth $53 million, including $41.5 million in guaranteed money.

Stafford was drafted No. 1 overall in 2009, signing a six-year contract for as much as $78 million, including $41.7 guaranteed. After dealing with multiple injuries in his first two seasons, he flourished in 2011 -- and so did the Lions.

With Stafford passing for 5,038 yards with a 63.5% completion rate, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, the Lions won 10 games and made the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

But all those numbers took a turn for the worse last year, most significantly Stafford’s touchdown passes (20) and the team’s victories (four), as the Lions lost their last eight games.

Still, the Lions are apparently willing to take the chance that last season -- as opposed to the previous one -- was just a fluke.

“Matt’s not happy with last year,” Coach Jim Schwartz said during last month’s minicamp. “None of us were happy with last year, but you also can’t overreact.”

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