The Lions won a road game.
The Detroit Lions did something yesterday that they hadn’t since October 28, 2007 against the Chicago Bears – the won a road game. After setting an NFL record with 26 consecutive road losses, the Lions traveled to Tampa Bay and upended the Buccaneers in overtime behind the performances of two former Michigan State Spartans. It also was the second win in two weeks, both over teams with winning records. Christmas came early for the Liedowns.
Drew Stanton led the offense on a 10 play, 58 yard drive in the last 1:39 of regulation to knot up the score at 20 after the Bucs went ahead with a field goal. Dave Rayner tied with a 28 yarder to give fans some free football. He ended it on the first drive of OT with a 34 yarder.
Stanton was using this as a tryout for 2011. His contract with the Lions will expire following this season. He finished 23 for 37 with 252 yards passing and a score. He also ran twice for 24 yards. Calvin Johnson continued to show why he’s the best receiver in the league by putting up ten catches for 152 yards.
This was head coach Gym Shorts’ reaction after the game-winner:
Category: Detroit Lions
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I like Drew Stanton and Jim Schwartz.
Stanton is one tough hombre that, unfortunately, has no future in the NFL.
I disagree. He'll never be a team's #1, but I think he'll catch on somewhere as a third stringer next year.
I hope he does, and if he does, he'd better send Calvin Johnson a nice present for keeping his career alive. I give Stanton an A for effort, but a C- for NFL talent and decision making. Either way, no one can say the guy doesn't work his tail off.
How many third string QBs are much better than C minuses though?
No future for Stanton? Put him on a decent team and he might surprise you. Brady might not have been even given a chance if Bledsoe wasn't injured.
That's my point, though. Stanton got his chance, and he's won how many games? Yes, the Lions have been in a position to win maybe every game he's played in, but they haven't won them all due, in large part, to Stanton's poor decision making. Look, I'm not trying to take shots at the guy. He's making the most out of what he's got, and he's done himself, his family, and anyone that truly bleeds green proud. BUT, and that's a big butt, he hasn't established himself as a starter the way Brady did after Bledsode's injury, or even the way Matt Flynn has after Rodgers's injury. I want the guy to succeed. I'd be more likely to watch a Lions team led by Drew Stanton than one led by Matt Stafford, Andrew Luck, or any other QB that didn't play his heartout for MSU. However, I don't think he has what it takes to start on Sundays. Sure, if QB1 and QB2 are both knocked out, you don't expect a hall of famer to come off the bench. BUT, I don't see the potential up-side to signing Drew Stanton as my 3rd string QB. I want either: (1) a proven QB that has been there before, but maybe his arms or legs aren't quite what they used to be, or (2) a 1st-3rd year player that was a stud in college that has yet to show what he's got. Stanton is neither. He's obviously not the accomplished veteran, and he's been given almost half a season to show what he's got, and he hasn't shown me THAT MUCH. I don't think his stock is any higher than it was when he left MSU, and at this point, that's a problem.
I'm by no means a big Drew Stanton fan. But, how are you going to say that Matt Flynn is any better? He did zero against the Lions after Rodgers was hurt and while he was very good against New England, his inexperience hit everyone in the face in the last minute of that game.
As far as Stanton's "almost half a season" for experience, he's played three full games and a small portion of the Jets game. He's 2-1 in starts.
His NFL stock wasn't all that high coming out of State. Matt Millen unexpectedly (and probably undeservedly) took him in the second round. Enough said there. He was more of a fourth or fifth round pick in my/many book(s).
Bottom line, I question which quarterbacks that are third string worthy you'd rather have in that spot.
Stanton's been in 4 games this season where the Lions were in a position to win, and they've eneded up 2-2 in those 4 games. You can say he only played in "a small portion of the Jets game," but it was on Stanton to win that game, and they lost it. And, to be fair, that (the Jet's game) is the exact situation you'd expect your QB3 to come into. And, you're ignoring the games he played in every season before this season.
Matt Flynn: Stanton started that game; Flynn came in after Rodgers was knocked out. Stanton went 10-22 for 117 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. Flynn (in 2 quarters and 1 minute) went 15-26 for 177 yards, o TD, 1 INT. So, zero schmero (although I acknowledge Stanton's team got the win). One week later, Flynn held his own in a shoot out with Brady, while Stanton leaned (heavily) on Calvin Johnson to beat the Bucs.
Stanton's draft status/NFL stock: we're in agreement, so I'm not sure "Enough said there." Can you say he's improved his status above 4th or 5th round after three years? The other anonymous mentioned Brady — it's not fair to compare Joe 5th Round against Brady, BUT, you pick a QB in the 5th round based on what he might do if given the opportunity – his potential upside. My point is, and we can agree to disagree on this, that Stanton has been given the opportunity to play and win games, and he's been uneven AT BEST.
Like I said, the guy deserves a lot of credit for what he's done with what he's got. He's made the most out of his situation and talent. But, if I'm an NFL coach, I'm not throwing a way a spot on my roster for a career 3rd string QB. I'm ginving that spot to either (1) a guy that's going to teach my 1st and 2nd QBs a thing or two based on his experience, or (2) a guy who might be the next Tom Brady, if only given the opportunity.
Can you really expect better than a 2-1 (or 2-2 record) from a third stringer?
Yep, Stanton made a terrible decision not to just sit down cross-legged on that last offensive play against the Jets. But, the Lions defense also let the Jets go 60 yards in 1:40 and then gave up the OT drive.
You're going to discount him for "leaning heavily" on Calvin? Isn't that what you're supposed to do with the best WR in the league? My goodness. Discredit Joe Montana then.
I think the argument can be made that Stanton has played almost equivalent to how Shaun Hill has played…and we both know he's a second stringer.
I understand the argument about a guy with upside as your 3rd QB, but how many Tom Brady's have come along? And that wasn't me comparing him to Brady. To me, Stanton would make a decent 3rd stringer on a decent team (say the Eagles) when Vick is out for a few weeks and Kevin Kolb gets dinged up and has to leave the game.
Like I said, he has made the most of what he's got, and I give him credit for that. I am not discounting the guy for throwing the ball to the best WR in the league, but if anyone else was lining up out there, but you shouldn't need the best WR in the league to pull in a fingertip catch out of his backside to convert a 3rd down. But you're right: if you got him, use him.
Do I know you, Anon?