Every Matthew Stafford pass from Week One

First Quarter Passing

Stafford got off to a slow start in his return to Ford Field, something he’s been notorious for, basically ever since he arrived in 2009. He looks slimmed down and moved around the pocket well. Losing his best weapon on short notice made for a strange array of newer options being tested out early on.

• Incomplete short (Quintez Cephus)
• Incomplete short (Danny Amendola)
• Complete to Cephus 20 yd
• Incomplete short (Cephus)

Key Play: Incomplete short (Cephus)

In the absence of top receiver Kenny Golladay, it didn’t take long for Stafford to key in on a new favorite. This was a 3rd down play inside the red zone, and the ball went in the rookie Cephus’s direction for the fourth time in the quarter.

Cephus has drawn a lot of praise for his route running and knack for getting open, but was unable to create any separation from Kyle Fuller across the middle of the end zone.

Lions right guard Jonah Jackson inexplicably left his block, turned around and nearly sacked Stafford in the process, causing the throw to be off balance.

Even an accurate pass would have been a tough play against good coverage though. A promising drive stalls out with a Matt Prater field goal for the game’s first score.

• Complete to Adrian Peterson 8 yd
• Complete to Amendola 11 yd

First Quarter Passing: 3-7, 39 yards