Quicker Tempo, Sharper Stafford Help Lions Offense Get Back In Sync
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
FORD FIELD (CBS DETROIT) - Matthew Stafford had a feeling Thursday would be different.
The Detroit Lions had not scored a touchdown in either of their last two games - both losses - but the quarterback could sense even in pregame warmups that the streak would end Thanksgiving Day against the Chicago Bears.
"I knew we were going to have a good game on offense," Stafford said. "I could feel it. Just didn't happen the first couple minutes of the game. Obviously a three-and-out, a ball I probably could have hit Calvin [Johnson] on, gave him a little bit better of a day, and then the fumble was unfortunate, but I knew we were going to have a good day."
Offensive linemen Rob Sims and Dominic Raiola had the same expectation.
"As hard as we work, there comes a point where you've got to break out and enough's enough," Raiola said. "That's kind of what we said as an offensive line – enough's enough."
The Lions broke through Thursday, defeating the Bears, 34-17, and moving to 8-4 on the season.
Throughout the last two weeks, players had expressed confidence that the scoring would pick up, but Sims said the struggle to reach the end zone had weighed on them to some degree.
"Doubt was creeping in a little bit and it wasn't – it didn't feel right, but we just hung in there together," Sims said.
"I've been here for five years and can't remember the last time we went a stretch where we didn't score touchdowns," Sims continued. "Maybe we didn't play well on offense, but not when we didn't score touchdowns. You get that feeling like, 'Hey, what's going on?' a little bit, but that's the thing – we've just got to keep hanging on and just keep doing what we're doing and just believe in who we are and what we need to do."
The Lions offense looked smooth Thursday, with Stafford completing 34 of 45 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns - both to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who bounced back from a pair of mediocre performances by snagging 11 catches for 146 yards against the Bears.
Johnson saw single coverage much of the game, and Sims smiled when he described what it does for Stafford and the rest of the Lions to see Johnson with only one defender.
"I'm sure Matt's eyes get big," Sims said. "Ours do, too. One of the best, and when they get it going, man, it's just a lot of fun to watch and be a part of.
"When [Stafford] gets going, look out because he can pick you apart," Sims added. "That's what he did."
The Lions put an emphasis Thursday on playing fast, dictating the pace of the game, and it clearly paid dividends. Stafford found a rhythm, hitting not only Johnson but also wide receivers Golden Tate, Jeremy Ross and Corey Fuller; tight ends Eric Ebron, Joe Fauria and Brandon Pettigrew; and running backs Theo Riddick and Joique Bell.
Head coach Jim Caldwell was pleased with Stafford's performance but cautioned that it was clearly out of the norm.
"Let's not fool ourselves," Caldwell said. "77 [percent] is something that's not done consistently in this league. Do I think that he's capable? I think and still do believe that he's capable of having great games. I do think that you haven't seen the best of him yet. This was outstanding today, but I think he's capable of continuing to rise."
Sims said he could hear the ball coming off Stafford's hands during the game, whipping through the air. To Sims, that signaled that it would be a long day for Chicago. Sure enough, Stafford flourished, and Sims said the faster tempo was one reason why.
"That's something we've been stressing is just tempo, tempo, tempo," Sims said. "Matt was talking about how great the receivers were doing getting up to the line. We always run up to the line because [offensive line coach] Jeremiah [Washburn] yells at us if we don't, so we always run up to the line, but I think that just helps [Stafford] get up there and give him a little extra second to make his calls and figure out what he wants to do before the ball's hiked.
"We were still huddling, but it was real quick," Sims added. "It was quick. I guess you could call it muddle huddle. I think it's just one of those things. We just get it going. We're feeling each other, playing together for a long time, and then here we go."
Stafford attributed the offense's success more to execution than to any differences in strategy.
"That's all great, but if you don't execute, it doesn't work," Stafford said. "We were executing today, and that's the big thing."
Just as Caldwell noted that Stafford has more to show, Sims made a similar comment about the Lions as a whole.
"We're still tip of the iceberg of what we could be, especially with Golden and stuff like that," Sims said, "but we're on the right track, so we've just got to keep on pressing toward that."