NEW ORLEANS -- Matthew Stafford was almost perfect Monday night -- and put together one of the better games of his career.
The Detroit Lions quarterback shredded the New Orleans Saints, throwing as many touchdowns (three) as incompletions throughout the game. He also put together a necessary drive with a couple of clutch throws when the Lions started to head into the all-too-familiar collapse mode in the fourth quarter that led to another touchdown.
It all led to a big prime-time win, 35-27, for the seventh-year quarterback. He completed 22 of 25 passes for 254 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Perhaps of more importance, he bailed out the Lions when they needed him to.
And while it came against one of the worst defenses in the league, it continued a strong stretch for Stafford. Since the team’s bye and the semi-installation of Jim Bob Cooter’s offense, Stafford has thrown 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
He has been a more accurate passer, too, as he has a four-game streak of completing at least 65 percent of his passes. The yardage may not be huge, but his accuracy and decision-making continues to improve under Cooter.
Of course, this came against a poor New Orleans defense -- one that entered Monday allowing 278.77 yards per game and was in the bottom three in the league in almost every major statistical category.
But it was, from a passer-rating standpoint, the best game of Stafford’s career with a 148.6 rating, topping the last time he played a porous pass defense -- on Thanksgiving against Philadelphia -- when he had five touchdowns and a 137.8 passer rating.
What it means: Realistically for the Lions, not much. It all but ensures Detroit won’t have the top pick in the NFL draft -- which is all that should matter in the big picture for the Lions at this point. It probably means the Lions will land somewhere in the 5-12 range in terms of draft picks this spring, depending how the last two weeks finish up.
What were they thinking? The Lions' defense was backed up on its 1-yard line with 3 seconds left in the first half with the Saints threatening to score. Detroit, in its defensive formation, tried to call timeout when New Orleans spread the field out. One problem -- the Lions had no timeouts left. Detroit was not flagged for the gaffe, but that is something the team should be aware of.
One reason to get excited: Two weeks left in the season at this point, and then the real questions begin for the Lions as they have to make decisions on a new general manager and what to do with head coach Jim Caldwell.
One reason to panic: Glover Quin took a nasty hit in the second quarter and suffered a concussion. He took a knee to the head and got up completely woozy. One of Detroit’s most stable defenders, it was a very nasty hit.
Fantasy watch: Stafford and Golden Tate had nice games -- Stafford with an almost perfect first half with three touchdowns and Tate with two first-half touchdowns. If you started them, you picked up a lot of points.
Ouch: Besides Quin’s injury, the Lions briefly lost Ezekiel Ansah to an illness (he eventually returned) and Stafford had his left leg looked at on the sidelines after taking a third-quarter sack, but he also remained in the game.
Calvin Johnson not involved again: The Lions once again went away from their top receiver as Johnson has only one target -- a 19-yard first-quarter reception. This came a week after Johnson was targeted five times and had only one reception in a loss to the Rams. Johnson did reach 1,000 yards for the sixth straight season.
Quandre Diggs continues to improve: The rookie nickel corner seemed to be all over the field again, making five tackles and breaking up a couple of passes. The sixth-round pick has continued to improve each week since taking over for the injured Josh Wilson. He has become a valuable piece of Detroit’s defense.
