Matthew Stafford downplays matchup vs. Lions: 'Just like every other game'
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theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
On the surface, a matchup between a 5-1 team and a 0-6 squad doesn’t seem all that intriguing. But when the Rams host the Lions in Week 7, there will be no lack of storylines. One of the biggest topics of conversation will be Matthew Stafford facing his former team for the first time after spending 12 years in Detroit.
The game will be played at SoFi Stadium, so Stafford won’t be returning to Ford Field but it should still be a meaningful game for the Rams quarterback. And even with as many changes as the Lions have made this offseason since trading Stafford to the Rams, he still has relationships and connections to several people within the organization.
He was asked about facing the Lions for the first time after the Rams beat the Giants on Sunday and expectedly, he downplayed what this matchup means. He’s going to prepare for the Lions like he would any other opponent.
“Just like every other game. It’s an NFL opponent coming into our building,” he said Sunday. “Do I have a ton of history with them? Absolutely. And pregame, am I gonna be saying hey to some old teammates and friends, the Ford family hopefully if they make the trip? Absolutely. I’ve got nothing but great relationships with people over there. Have a lot of respect for the organization, the team, the ownership. It’ll be just another football game once the ball is snapped, but I’ll definitely try to say hey to some people that I haven’t seen in a while.”
During his 12 year tenure with the Lions, Stafford threw for 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns and led the NFL in pass attempts twice. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in every passing category, living up to expectations as a former No. 1 overall pick in 2009 – despite never winning a playoff game with the Lions.
There’s also the narrative of Stafford replacing Jared Goff, who now plays for the Lions, of course. The two quarterbacks are trending in very different directions, with Stafford playing like an MVP and Goff struggling to carry a Lions offense that has been one of the worst in football.
Stafford has experienced a lot in the NFL, but he’s never played a game against his former team, so Sunday will be a first for the Rams quarterback.
