DETROIT >> Matthew Stafford’s teammate Golden Tate called him a “tough Texas boy.”
It fits.
“When we need it the most 9 (Stafford) is going to duck his head and run. He’s done a phenomenal job at getting those key first downs, putting his body on the line and hopping back up,” Tate said. “That is one tough son of a gun.”
PHOTOS FROM LIONS WIN OVER RAMS
Not only is Stafford tough physically, it’s as if he has ice water flowing through his veins. It’s the perfect temperature for an NFL quarterback.
“He’s always going to show up and give us the best chance we can to win,” Tate said.
Stafford’s shoulders have been carrying more weight than usual with a Lions’ defense that is more injury-depleted than the offense.
“If you had a uniform, you were playing today,” Stafford said.
He came through again on Sunday, leading the Lions on a late fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a game-winning field goal.
The Lions won their second straight game, 31-28, over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Ford Field. The Lions have won two straight and boosted their record to 3-3.
Stafford was kind of “aw shucks” about his heroics afterward claiming he just did what needed to be done. It was his 10th career game with four or more touchdowns.
“Guys made big plays at big moments,” Stafford said.
The offense had to come up big, because the defense struggled against Rams quarterback Case Keenum who had a big day with 321 passing yards including three touchdowns. (In the first five games he had thrown just four touchdowns.)
Running back Todd Gurley is always a threat, but was held to 58 rushing yards on 14 carries. It was the exact same stat line as Lions’ running back Zach Zenner.
The Lions defense did hold the Rams late in the first half when they Tyrunn Walker and Stefan Charles stuffed Gurley on a fourth-and-one at Detroit’s 1-yard line.
Again the defense stopped the Rams on their first drive of the second half, but couldn’t control Keenum who at one point in the second half completed 19 consecutive passes.
The Lions’ defense saved their biggest stop for last.
After the Lions took a 31-28 lead, the Rams got the ball back with 1:29 left. On the second play, safety Rafael Bush stepped in front of tight end Lance Kendricks and intercepted Keenum’s pass. Game over.
It was the second straight week that an interception sealed the deal for the Lions. Last Sunday Darius Slay was the hero when he picked off Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz.
After Sunday’s win, Tate called the offense “loose and aggressive” it seems to be a good fit fpr them all.
It took all of coordinator Jim Bob Cooter’s creativity to come up with the plays that fit the personnel available.
The offensive line was reconfigured with Larry Warford out with a hip injury. Laken Tomlinson started at right guard with rookie Graham Glasgow at left guard next to rookie Taylor Decker.
“We had two rookies playing side by side. Against that particular front that is a heck of a challenge,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “… With the adjustments our offensive line, I thought, hung in there extremely well. Obviously they only allowed one sack so that’s a pretty good day.”
Tackle Corey Robinson took on the role of blocking tight end for the second straight game.
The Lions were down to two running backs – Zach Zenner and Justin Forsett (who signed on Tuesday. Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington were out with injuries.
Zenner carried 14 times for 58 yards – the exact same numbers as Gurley.
Stafford, who passed for 270 yards, threw four touchdowns to four different receivers – Marvin Jones Jr., Andre Roberts, Anquan Boldin and Tate.
Tate finished with more receiving yards (165) than he had accumulated in the first five games (134).
“I think it was what you would call a great team win, just overall,” Caldwell said. “I think everyody did their part enough to be able to get something don in that game and win it.”
The average difference in scores in all six Lions’ game is 3.16 points.
“I think we’ve gotten to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Caldwell said. “They kind of just feel like that’s the norm and it’s an atmosphere in which they can perform well, and they’ve been able to do so.”
While he didn’t say so, that tough Texas boy sets the tone for both sides of the ball.
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