Matthew Stafford calls for Detroit Lions leaders to step up

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has said that the leaders within the group need to set an example if the team are to win the NFC North.

The Lions have missed an excellent opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers following two losses in a row, but Stafford insists that there is no need for drastic changes.

Stafford told the Detroit Free Press: "This is a team I've been around a while and we have strong leaders on it - at every position. We have guys who know what it takes to win in this league and what a fine margin it is.

"There is no offensive, defensive, special-teams overhaul needed. We've got to go out and just play a little bit better than we've been playing.

"We have young guys who maybe haven't been in this position so it's on the leaders of the team, the guys that have been around, to show them how to act. Yeah, you lost two games, but you've still got a chance to go out and win your division, and it starts on Thursday."

The Lions host the Packers in a crucial game on Thursday night.