Stafford deserves another hand
TAMPA, Fla. — With the clock running down and the score tied, the Lions didn’t have any qualms about the ball being in Matthew Stafford’s injured throwing hand.
They’ve come to expect their quarterback to find a way to lead them to victory in those situations, and Stafford didn’t disappoint Sunday. He threw for 381 yards and set up Matt Prater for a 46yard field goal in the closing seconds to beat the Buccaneers 24- 21.
The victory stopped a twogame skid and kept the Lions ( 7- 6) in playoff contention with three games left.
“I just think we have a lot of confidence,” Stafford said after directing a winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime for the 32nd time in his career. “I think guys that have been around here have understood that sometimes that’s the way the game boils down. We go out there and make plays.
“When you have success, it breeds confidence. Frankly, there’s been some times this year where we haven’t been successful in those situations, some really close calls in some other games. It feels good to get back out there and have a two- minute drive, go down there and win the game.”
Stafford made his 109th consecutive start despite being limited in practice after his right hand was stepped on during the previous game in Baltimore. He completed 36 of 44 attempts against the Bucs ( 4- 9), and the Lions overcame two interceptions and a fumble.
Jameis Winston rallied the Bucs, who have lost eight of 10 after a 2- 1 start, from a 21- 7 fourthquarter deficit with a pair of touchdown passes. But once again, the Bucs’ defense couldn’t hold off an opponent down the stretch.
A week ago, the Bucs led by a field goal in the closing minutes of regulation before losing 26- 20 in overtime in Green Bay.
“This team is always going to fight. We’ve just got to learn how to come out on the other side of these things,” said Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who left the game in the first half with a biceps injury. “We fought back last week. We fought back this week. It’s a fine line between winning and losing. The fine line was a field goal today.”
Stafford moved the Lions 49 yards in eight plays to set up Prater’s winning kick with 20 seconds left — the fourth winning drive he has led this season.
“Tough guy who heals quickly. It’s always been that way,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s a great leader. Did a tremendous job out there for us under tough circumstances. He threw the ball pretty well. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but he did a nice job.”