NEW ORLEANS -- The Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford was almost perfect during the first half Monday night -- and along the way he passed another well-known quarterback in all-time passing yards.
With 142 yards in the first half, Stafford moved past former Washington quarterback Joe Theismann for No. 66 all time in passing yards. Theismann had 25,206 yards from 1974 to 1985. Stafford started Monday night with 25,123 passing yards.
He now has 25,246 yards.
He likely won’t move much further Monday night as former Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia is up next with 25,537 yards.
Stafford also moved past Danny White and Steve Bartkowski in all-time passing touchdowns in the first half. He entered the game tied with White with 155 and one behind Bartkowski, who had 156. With three touchdowns in the first half, he’s now at 158 career passing touchdowns -- No. 75 all time.
Next up is Tommy Kramer, with 159, and Theismann, who is No. 73 all time with 160.
Stafford had an almost perfect first half. He completed 12 of 13 passes for 142 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a passer rating of 151.8 in the first half. If he keeps it up, it would obliterate his career-best passer rating of 137.8, set earlier this season in a 45-14 win over Philadelphia where he completed 27 of 38 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns.
