EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The pocket fell around Matthew Stafford and once again, the Detroit Lions quarterback was forced to improvise. Like he’s done so often during the first two weeks of the season, Stafford spun out of the back of the pocket, away from the pressure.
And then he made his decisions. Sometimes, if the lane was there, he took off, trying to get the first down. Other times he kept his eyes focused downfield, searching for a pass-catcher, any pass-catcher, to make a play.
This is the Stafford the Lions have gotten used to seeing over the past two seasons, the smart quarterback making intelligent decisions, the quarterback who so often took very little he had to work with and somehow made a play.