The St. Louis Rams vs. the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. A match-up between the last two first overall picking teams in the draft. This one was going to be mouth watering.
Sam Bradford lined up at quarterback for St. Louis, this year’s first overall pick, as the Rams’ new golden boy, having led them to more victories already this season than the whole of last year.
Detroit overcame the St. Louis Rams at Ford Field on Sunday
Matt Stafford, the Lions’ pin-up quarterback, would sit this one out, as he has for the last few weeks, with a troublesome shoulder injury on his throwing arm. Enter Shaun Hill.
The 30-year-old nine-year veteran has hardly had a stellar career playing for the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers, with limited starts and mediocre stats, but he has been solid for the Lions stepping in for Stafford so far this season.
He has posted up over 225 yards passing in each starting game and steadily throwing fewer interceptions (he didn’t throw any picks against St. Louis).
NFL.com’s match recap
NFL.com’s match highlights
Add this to his ability to rush the ball when needed and you have a solid stand-in quarterback.
Last week he almost led a comeback against Green Bay, faltering only on what would surely have been the game winning drive. So in he stepped this week against Bradford and the Rams.
227 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns later and the Lions were leaving the field not only with their first win of the season but with an impressive scoreboard reading, 6-44.
With some impressive defensive and special teams plays to go along with Hill’s offensive prowess and the Lions have shown that they are a team capable of beating anybody on their day.
You may be saying it was only the Rams. Maybe so, but the Rams have been inspired in past weeks by Sam Bradford’s increasing progress as an NFL quarterback and would have been looking at this game as another potential win.
Furthermore the Lions didn’t just beat the Rams, they looked great doing it and the result showed in the score line.
All this will help Hill’s case to be the Lions’ number one at quarterback but it would still be a difficult, and somewhat controversial, choice if Jim Schwartz was to let him lead the team.
Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick just over a year ago and was handed a $40+ million contract by the Lions. If he’s seen being benched in favour of a veteran like Hill, picked up in a trade for a lowly seventh round draft pick, then it could have severe repercussions in the locker room and in the stands. The fans pay good money to see stars like Stafford play and wouldn’t like to see him benched, regardless of his, or Shaun Hill’s, form.
This hands Schwartz a dilemma when Stafford returns from his injury. One thing is for sure, if Hill keeps playing well and the Lions keep winning, it is a dilemma that is only going to become more difficult.
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