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Matthew Stafford played in just three games last season for the Detroit Lions and in only one of them, a 37-25 victory over Washington at Ford Field, did the quarterback take every snap from center.
He threw for four touchdowns that day, three of them to premier receiver Calvin Johnson, and it is memories of that game, that performance, and that pairing that has hopes sky high for the Lions in 2011.
With Stafford playing less than 30 minutes in one NFC North game and missing all of the other five, Detroit split two decisions against Super Bowl champion Green Bay, did the same against Minnesota, and went 0-2 against division champ Chicago by a combined nine points.
Every Lions analysis this season begins with the same words - if Stafford stays healthy.
And, if he does, there's little question Detroit will be a legitimate force in turning the division into a four-team race.
After missing the final eight games of the 2010 season and undergoing shoulder surgery in January, Stafford's first appearance Friday, a start that lasted two possessions and little more than five minutes, produced 6-of-7 passing for 71 yards, two touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 148.8.
"We played fast, executed, and threw and caught the ball well," he said after a 34-3 exhibition rout of Cincinnati. "We spread the ball around … got it to our playmakers [and] let them do the rest."
A 26-yard touchdown pass to Johnson was a perfectly thrown dart into tight coverage. Stafford was the playmaker on that one.
After a hit by Isaiah Ekejiuba forced a Bengal turnover on the ensuing kickoff return, the Lions faced a fourth-and-one at the Cincinnati 7. They went for it and coach Jim Schwartz gave the nod to a play that offensive coordinator Scott Linehan would never call -- or would he? -- during the regular season, a fade pass to the edge of the endzone.
Stafford's throw may have floated a split second long, but Nate Burleson made a remarkable effort to drag both feet inbounds for a catch that was at first ruled incomplete but reversed on Schwartz's challenge.
Stafford was limited to 10 games as a rookie in '09 because of knee and left shoulder issues. It was the right shoulder that put him on the shelf for 13 games last season. In the games he played, though, there was little question about the ability or potential.
His arm is unquestioned and he can, quite frankly, deliver passes that many quarterbacks only think about making.
He seems to have developed quite a rapport with Johnson, whose bruised shoulder suffered on Friday's TD catch is not considered serious.
Many who have observed training camp gush over the wave length the two appear to be on, how Stafford instinctively knows how Johnson will attack certain schemes, where he'll be and when.
Of course, Johnson receives a lot of double coverage and Stafford is comfortable on those occasions going to Burleson or looking off to tight ends like Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew.
Keeping Stafford clean means a healthy offensive line and that has been a problem during training camp. Dependable left tackle Jeff Backus, with 160 straight starts, has a torn pectoral muscle, but the Lions insist he'll be ready for the regular season.
"We know what we have back there," center Dominic Raiola said recently. "We have to keep him upright, keep him healthy."
The Lions often managed to be competitive with backups Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton at the controls most of last season.
They need Stafford, though, to step to the next level and be contenders for the first time in a long time.
Contact Blade sports columnist Dave Hackenberg at: dhack@theblade.com or 419-724-6398.
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