DETROIT – Matthew Stafford has said repeatedly that he has no interest in ending it for the second consecutive season.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think he’s going to let that happen,” joked interim coach Darrell Bevell the other day.
You have to admire the resilience. Stafford is one of the great iron men in the history of the position, having started 136 games in a row, the seventh longest straight quarterback in NFL history. He continued to play this year as well, despite having torn the cartilage in his ribs and partially torn a ligament in his throwing hand. The rib injury was especially painful, but Stafford continued to play, even with the Lions already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
But you really should ask yourself if Lions should take that decision out of Stafford’s hands after his last injury.
Stafford lasted only one series before rolling his right ankle in the 47-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon. He tried to put tape on and give the side a chance, but he continued with such pain that the Lions asked for a cart to take him to the locker room.
The proud Stafford refused the cart, instead jumping with one leg in the tunnel behind the house’s bench.
“(Stafford’s) is obviously not feeling well,” said third straight quarterback David Blough. “He’s going to see these things, and it’s a drag. You show up and never expect these things to happen, especially in the beginning, and I feel bad for him. That’s why Chase (Daniel) and I are here, to go out there and play. I wish Matthew good luck and I hope he comes back very well and we will see where he is over the course of the week, I think. “
With a defense that is approaching the record for the permitted yard team in one season, Stafford helped prevent this team from disintegrating completely. Without it, that’s exactly what happened.
Tom Brady accumulated five touchdowns in six series in the first half, and connected with four different players in scoring passes. Tampa Bay accumulated 410 yards in the first half alone, while the Lions only managed 87. They did not cross the 50-yard line until the fourth period and never entered the red zone for the second time this season.
They also haven’t scored any offensive points for the second time this season.
Lions general manager Bob Quinn signed a $ 13.05 million three-year contract with Chase Daniel for a time like this. This is one of the biggest contracts in the league for a reserve quarterback. Still, Daniel’s eight attacks produced six punts, a fumble (by D’Andre Swift), plus the end of the first half – and no offensive points of any kind. He finished 13 of 18, going 86 yards before David Blough replaced him in the fourth period.
“I’ve been beaten like this before, very few in the middle, and it’s never a fun feeling,” said Daniel. “It is what we do for a living. It’s a game, but it’s what we do for a living. It is our pride at stake. Our pride was crushed today. “
Blough was acquired by trade last year and ended up starting five games, while Stafford dealt with a back fracture. He returned as the third quarterback this season, but had not seen the field until Sunday. He went 6 out of 10, moving to 49 yards and a quarterback rating colder than December temperatures outside Ford Field – 32.9.
“Obviously it’s difficult, man,” said Blough. “We have to go out there and try to do the best we can. As an offense, we hope better than what we showed there today. I think that, in all aspects, nobody feels sorry for us, nobody cares if we’re losing the coach or something. It is the situation we are in. We should go out there and produce, so it’s frustrating. “
Lions lost five coaches due to COVID protocols, including interim coach / striker Darrell Bevell. This forced receiver coach Robert Prince to assume the interim role of head coach, while defensive coach Sean Ryan called the offensive plays from the cabin.
“I thought he was really good,” said Daniel. “I thought he was very energetic all week. I thought he took full advantage of his opportunity. As an offense, we don’t help you at all. It’s hard to call – stick with a base defense when you’re a little down. No excuses from anyone. It’s an adult league, and we have to deal with our business week after week, and we just didn’t do it today. “