ALLEN PARK -- Happy Calvinniversary everyone!

It was on this date two years ago that Calvin Johnson shocked the sporting world by calling it quits at age 30. It was the second time a Lions great walked away early, and it was a gut punch to Detroit.

But in retrospect, fears about the demise of the Lions offense -- and Matthew Stafford specifically -- were greatly exaggerated.

Johnson was one of the greatest pure receiver talents to ever play the game, and certainly the best in Lions history. His Hall of Fame case is complicated by his early departure, but few have ever dominated like he did in his hey. And as such, many believed Detroit would struggle without him. And Stafford especially.

Instead, Stafford has actually played better in the post-Calvin era.

With Johnson, Stafford completed 60.9 percent of his passes for an average of 279 yards per game. He had 163 touchdowns, 98 interceptions and a QB rating of 85.8.

Since Johnson retired, Stafford has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for an average of 274 yards per game. He has 53 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and a QB rating of 96.2.

In other words: Stafford is throwing for a couple fewer yards per game without Johnson, but also completing his passes nearly 5 percent more often. He's slashed his interception rate by nearly half -- from once every 37.7 passes, to once ever 58 -- while his touchdown rate has climbed.

Even if you throw out Stafford's first two injury-riddled seasons, his numbers are still better without Johnson. Even if you count only the 2014-15 seasons -- 63.7 percent completion rate, 266 yards per game, 54 touchdowns, 25 picks and a 91.3 rating -- they're still better.

Of course, this is not to say Stafford is a better quarterback because Johnson retired. But it's clear that Stafford has become a better quarterback despite Johnson retiring. And there are a lot of reasons for that, most notably the promotion of Jim Bob Cooter to offensive coordinator. Cooter's system was the perfect antidote for losing a WR1 because it favored shorter, low-risk passes. And as Stafford became more comfortable in the system, Detroit reached back for the long ball again in 2017.

GM Bob Quinn also deserves credit for Stafford's ascent. It's impossible to replace an individual talent like Johnson, but Quinn did the best he could. He found the top receiver on the market -- Marvin Jones -- and did then signed him on the first day of free agency. Even if it meant giving him more money than anyone paid a receiver that year.

Jones was up and down throughout 2016, but bloomed into one of the most dangerous downfield threats last year. His 16 deep balls led the league. So did his 18.0 yards per catch. His five downfield touchdowns ranked third.

That's gone a long way toward replacing what the Lions lost in their downfield passing game without Johnson. So has the addition of third-round pick Kenny Golladay, who caught five 40-yard passes as a rookie last season. That matched Jones and -- who else? -- Johnson for the most by a Lions receiver since at least 2000.

In fact, while it may seem like Stafford has become a more conservative quarterback without Johnson, he only averaged 7.0 yards per attempt with him. Now he's averaging 7.6 yards per attempt.

Johnson was a singular talent, there's no question about that. But while the Lions continue to have their problems, losing Johnson hasn't really been one of them. There's no question about that either. And they have a whole lot of people to thank for that, starting with Matthew Stafford.