Pat Caputo: Stafford hovering over Lions as Sandman
Amazing. Indisputable. Unnerving.
After all the Lions have been through, and now accomplished, the ghost of Matthew Stafford still looms.
As the Lions’ celebrate their first division title in more than three decades, and the home playoff game it brings, if the standings remain unchanged after the final two weeks of the regular season, the specter of Stafford lingers like a line from Metallica.
He could be Sandman. “Exit light. Enter night…off to never, never land.”
It’s the two-ton elephant in the room. It’d be the most Lions’ thing ever if Stafford won the first Lions’ playoff game at Ford Field, but with the opposition, especially given he’s won a Super Bowl since leaving Detroit.
Ah, the mixed emotions about Stafford. He sure had his resident sycophants as Lions’ QB, or to his detractors, apologists.
No one, though, doubted his arm talent. And this may be his best season under the circumstances. The Rams have been gutted since their all-or-nothing Super Bowl run.
Yet, Stafford has helped fifth-round pick, Puka Nacua become one of the most productive rookie receivers of all time. Cooper Kupp is back and rolling. Kyren Williams ranks among the NFL’s best backs and LA’s defense has fallen in line. The Lions shouldn’t want to play the Rams right now. They are hotter than the seat beneath Troy Weaver.
Ideally, Stafford turns out be a plus for his former team. The Rams face the current NFC No.1 No.1 seed 49ers in their last game. The Lions meet the Cowboys this Saturday. Detroit beats Dallas, and LA downs SF, there likely will be no Stafford worries in the first round.
Well, at not least yet.
There is the second round. Enter Sandman? Oh well, nobody ever thought this would be easy. Or anything less than nerve wracking.