ESPN NFL

1. After he threw four interceptions in 55 preseason passes, we shouldn’t be surprised that rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford tossed three on Sunday. Don’t fret, Lions fans: That total didn’t even qualify for a division high this weekend. But it was more than any of the past six rookie quarterbacks who have made an opening-week start since 2002. ESPN Stats & Information compared those performances and found that Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Kyle Orton, Kyle Boller and David Carr threw a combined four interceptions in their first starts. Stafford’s 27.4 passer rating was the lowest among that group. Overall, however, interceptions come with the territory. You can’t start a rookie quarterback and start counting interceptions. (Unless you’re a blogger.)
2. To me, here’s a more concerning statistic: The Lions finished with 33 rushing yards on 20 carries. Nothing will make Stafford’s life more difficult than if the Lions become a one-dimensional team. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s nature is to continue pounding the ball, but that’s difficult to do when you fall behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Detroit elected not to shake up its offensive line this offseason, instead drafting tight end Brandon Pettigrew to help its edge blocking. Tailback Maurice Morris, signed to be a complement to starter Kevin Smith, was active but did not play Sunday. Absent of getting Morris more involved, the only thing the Lions can do is keep plugging away and hope to discover better cohesion.
3. The Lions started four rookie draft choices Sunday: Stafford, Pettigrew, safety Louis Delmas and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill. The rest of the NFC North started two draft choices. Total. The jury is still out on whether Stafford and Hill are ready to be NFL starters, and Pettigrew’s summer quadriceps injury set him back a bit. But Delmas is ready to be a big playmaker. His 65-yard fumble return is an example of the kind of play the Lions are hoping to get from him on a regular basis.

Have the Lions adequately addressed the NFL’s worst run defense of a year ago? The Saints put up some flashy passing numbers Sunday, but they also churned out 157 rushing yards. The Lions started two new defensive tackles in Hill and Grady Jackson, and they also have a new middle linebacker in Larry Foote. I consider that a personnel upgrade over their lineup last season, and it should be more difficult to push the Lions around this season. Sunday, however, wasn’t a good start in that department.