The best news to come out of the Detroit Lions locker room after last night’s 34-3 preseason squashing over the Cincinnati Bengals was the fact Matthew Stafford left the game untouched on his own two feet. Stafford passed the test, strutting off Ford Field after taking the snaps for two series and firing two touchdown passes without either shoulder seeing the turf.
The Bengals seemed more like the Lions of the recent past; lost, so much they may be looking ahead to next year’s NFL Draft that will feature Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, a sure top pick for a team like the Bengals.
Stafford looked great although he only took 11 snaps with six out of the seven passing snaps coming for the shotgun. The former UGA standout went to the sidelines finishing the game 6-of-7 for 71 yards and two touchdowns; for a quarterback rating of 148.5.
The Lions finished the season on a 4-0 run that included two road wins and that had the Lions addicts jonsing for the NFL to return on time. Don’t tell these Lions fans this was just a meaningless exhibition game because they are starving for a winner after finally starting to come down from the ill-effects of the Matt Millen era.
Stafford performed the way he is expected to after signing a $48 million-ish guaranteed contract that started out with the slinger spending more game days in street clothes than on the field over the first two seasons of that contract. In fact he has only played in 13 games over the first two seasons combined; less than last year’s rookie sensation Sam Bradford who played in all 16 his first season with the Rams.
Referred to as the China Doll by some of the impatient fans in Detroit, until he proves he is durable enough to last in this league and take a solid hit that doesn’t require major surgery, he remains a huge question mark.
Coach Jim Schwartz did what most experienced head coaches would have done. He took Stafford out after two successful series. With some coaches playing starters a little more than normal due to the lost time and late start after the lockout, it was smart to not take a chance on Stafford.
It’s time to protect the China Doll, especially during a preseason that has NFL analysts picking them to finally get over the hump and make the playoffs. The news has started well…with Stafford leaving the game with a win and no doctor’s appointment in sight.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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