Preparing for the Buffalo Bills

DetNews.com - Lions plan on about 25 plays for Matthew Stafford vs. Bills
SI.com - 2009 NFL Scouting Reports

Opinion
MLive.com - Tom Kowalski on WMAX: Aggressive Matthew Stafford won't hesitate to challenge defensesdefenses
Roscommon Co. Herald News - Stafford as ready as he’ll ever be

Stafford to begin game against Bills

With Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton injured, Coach Jim Schwartz has stated that Matthew will likely begin the game against the Buffalo Bills. He will not play the entire game though since the Lions have signed free-agent QB Brooks Bollinger and claimed QB Kevin O'Connell off waivers today.

FreeP.com - Stafford will start final exhibition for Lions
Scout's Roar Report - Notebook: Stafford The Starter By Default?
The New York Times - Lions’ Quarterback Situation Takes a Bad Turn
DetroitLions.com - A New Arm
Scout's Roar Report - Harrington vs. Stafford: Omen or Obtuse?
Detroit Free Press - Hype of top pick good selling point despite being Lion

Not that I find someone getting injured funny, but I got a laugh of of this post over at SundayHop.com.

Opinion
ESPN - Lions QB Battle

Stafford taking all the reps

Matthew took all the reps at practice today due to the fact that both Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton were out with injuries. Culpepper suffered a cut on one of his toes, and Stanton experienced swelling on his left knee. Both conditions are considered minor, but it's still unknown if they will or will not play against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday.

FreeP.com - Lions QBs Culpepper, Stanton miss practice with injuries
CBSSports - Rookie Stafford only healthy QB at Lions practice
DetroitLions.com - Stafford has Handled Camp, Preseason with Poise
MLive.com - Daunte Culpepper suffers toe injury; status for Thursday's Lions game is unknown
CBSSports - Rapid Reports
MLive.com - Drew Stanton has sore knee; Matthew Stafford takes all the snaps at Lions practice
MLive.com - Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford still learning from on-the-job training

Lions beat Colts

The Lions beat the Colts 18-17. Matthew had a good game. He was 13-of-19 passes for 160 yards and one interception. Head coach Jim Schwartz said that the interception was on the wide receiver and not on Matthew.

Associated Press - Colts Fall To Detroit
NFL.com - Game Center
FreeP.com - Culpepper, Stafford make cases to be Lions' No.
DetNews.com - Peyton Manning impressed by Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper
MLive.com - Lions' Matthew Stafford happy with performance
MLive.com - Lions coach Jim Schwartz pleased with QBs in win
MLive.com - Matthew Stafford should be Lions' starting QB
DetNews.com - Lions take pride in offensive showing vs. Colts
DetNews.com - Daunte Culpepper is hanging on, but Matthew Stafford is charging for Lions
InPlay! Magazine - Lions win third preseason game, quarterback battle continues….
FreeP.com - Culpepper, Stafford, Stanton all play well for Lions
The Oakland Press - Lions Lowdown: Offense looks good in win
Lions Gab - Breaking Down Stafford’s Third Game

Photos
DetNews.com
FreeP.com
DetroitLions.com

Video
NFL.com - Highlights

Culpepper to begin game vs. Colts

According to Coach Jim Schwartz, Matthew will likely begin Thursday night's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Today's game airs at 1:00 p.m. on the NFL Network.

FreeP.com - Lions' Culpepper to start vs. Colts
DetroitLions.com - Third-Game Objectives
FreeP.com - Odds are Culpepper starts opener, Stafford takes over later
League13.com - Summing-up Schwartz, Manning and Stafford

Video
DetroitLions.com - Schwartz discusses quarterbacks

Both QBs to get equal time against Colts

According to coach Jim Schwartz, both Matthew and Daunte Culpepper will probably get equal time with the first team versus the Indianapolis Colts. No word yet on who will begin the game.

MLive.com - Got an opinion about Lions' QB Matthew Stafford? Jim Schwartz really doesn't care
MLive.com - Who starts for Lions on Saturday might not really matter
DetNews.com - Daunte Culpepper, Matthew Stafford will get equal time vs. Colts
DetroitLions.com - Preseason Growing Pains

Colts talk about Stafford

There're a couple of interesting videos today. The Indianapolis Colts and former NFL QB Dan Marino talk about Matthew and the Lions.

Indy Sports Nation - Colts Prepare for Lions, Rookie QB
Indy Sports Nation - Rookie Rewind: 11 Years Ago it was Colts with NFL #1 Pick at QB
MLive.com - Reviews mixed on how Lions rookies have fared
DetNews.com - Mariucci, Martz choose Culpepper

 

Learning from mistakes

This is from CBSSports' Rapid Reports, "Lions QB Matt Stafford seems to be learning from his mistakes. On a rollout right - the play he threw an INT on vs. Cleveland - Stafford threw the ball away when nothing was there."

MLive.com - Still no clue about who will be Lions' starting QB
DetNews.com - Jim Schwartz sees 'no good' in naming his starting QB
Associated Press - Peyton Manning talks about rookie QBs
ESPN - How Stafford could gain edge
MLive.com - Lions' offense responds after Scott Linehan's chat
Associated Press - Lions happy to get receiving corps back in place

Putting in the extra time

According to CBSSports, Matthew stayed after practice Monday to continue throwing passes to RB Aaron Brown.

CBSSports - Rapid Reports
FreeP.com - Lions QB battle continues
MLive.com - Waiting game unenticing to Lions' Matthew Stafford after poor performance against the Browns
DetNews.com - Matthew Stafford's shaky start doesn't surprise, nor concern, Lions GM
The Huge Show - Matthew Stafford remains Lions' best option at QB
DetNews.com - Rookie's awful game rates with other first-round QBs
USAToday - Monday eye-opener: Sanchez or Stafford?
FreeP.com - Lions QB Stafford struggles in first start
FreeP.com - Fight was funny, but issues still remain for Lions

No lowlights

Not much to post tonight except for a lowlights video, but who wants to rehash the game? Certainly not me, so I'm not going to post it. But since we're talking about videos, I got a bone to pick with the Detroit media. There's an awful lack of post-game video and audio. The Detroit TV stations barely show or post anything at all. Ditto for the subscription-based sites. I refuse to believe that they can't do better. But enough with the rant. Let's move on.

Scout's Roar Report - They Said It: Lions Post-Game Quotes
MLive.com - Matthew Stafford's interception another reason he should be Lions' starter
DetNews.com - Rookie QB's first test could've gone better, that's for sure
DetroitLions.com - A Constructive Look

Tough outing against the Browns

It was a tough night for Matthew. He was 5-for-13 for 34 yards and an interception, and the Lions lost to the Browns 27-10. I'm sure he'll bounce back from this one, continue to improve, and as he said after Saturday's loss, 'the name of the game is getting back out there.'

Associated Press - Stafford struggles in first start
DetNews.com - Look familiar? Lions a bust in Matthew Stafford's starting debut
MLive.com - Matthew Stafford blanked in Lions' loss to Browns
CBSSports - Rapid Reports
MLive.com - Lions' Matthew Stafford hurts his case in QB battle
MLive.com - Lions' fourth preseason game strategy has nothing to do with quarterback battle

Photos
DetNews.com
USPresswire
Daylife

Last minute update

Just a short update before the game.

MLive.com - Lions' Jim Schwartz: 'Body of work' will decide QB battle between Matthew Stafford, Daunte Culpepper
MLive.com - Five players to watch: Lions-Browns

Stafford to begin game against Browns

Head coach Jim Schwartz has said that Matthew will begin the game against the Cleveland Browns this Saturday. Schwartz doesn't like to use the word "start" since he doesn't think the team has any starters yet.

DetNews - Lions' Matthew Stafford will start vs. Browns
MLive.com - Matthew Stafford, Louis Delmas will start for Lions on Saturday
FreeP.com - Stafford will start 2nd exhibition for Lions

Talking Smack

Vic Carucci has posted an interesting article at NFL.com. It includes a pretty good quote by rookie safety Louis Delmas.

Another article from NFL.com.

No starter has been named for Saturday's game ...yet, but according to the Sporting News and the Detroit News, it's likely that Matthew will start. The Oakland Press says that coach Jim Schwartz will announced Saturday's starter today.

Opinion article
Detnews.com - Daunte Culpepper might be the one at QB

Lions signing autographs after practice


ESPN - NFL Saturday Preseason Previews

'Bend but never break'

Don Coble of Online Athens has written a very good article about the challenges that Matthew will be facing with the Lions.

ESPN - Re-capping three hours in Detroit
Sporting News - The best of the SEC
CBSSports - Rapid Reports
USAToday - Enormous expectations on Stafford: Can he fit Lions' bill?

Matthew's TD against the Falcons made the NFL Network's 10 Ten Plays of the Week.

Sirius NFL Radio was at practice on Wednesday, and DetroitLions.com has posted the audio from the interviews that took place. They've also posted some photos from practice.

And what does a long time NFL scout think about Matthew, and when he thinks Matthew should start? Watch it at NFL.com.

Madden NFL 10 Rookie Ratings Drills

I really like CBSSports's Rapid Reports. If you haven't checked them out I recommend them. It's a really good way to follow practices.

Also, EA Sports has posted some videos of the rookies doing drills for Madden NFL 10.

DetNews.com - Martin Mayhew thrilled with play of QBs
MLive.com - Detroit Lions offensive line gives backs room to run
MLive.com - Lions' Martin Mayhew pleased with quarterbacks

Photos
DetroitLions.com

EA Sports - Madden NFL 10 Rookie Ratings Drills
Agility


Stamina


Awareness

Tough day on the job

According to CBSSports, the QBs had a tough day at practice today. Plus, Sports Illustrated's Peter King grades Matthew's arm.

FreeP.com - Stafford’s debut had its ups, first downs
FanHouse.com - Culpepper Not Giving Up on Lions Job
FreeP.com - What are others saying about Stafford's debut?
Scout's Roar Report - Stafford Likely To "Start" Against Browns
MLive.com - Plenty of reasons to still believe in Lions, Tigers
MLive.com - Former Lions TE Ty Hallock on WBBL: Matthew Stafford shows leadership ability by not harping on dropped balls (WBBL-FM's Monday Morning Quarterback Audio)
FreeP.com - Lions GM Mayhew discusses QBs, Bullocks
USAToday - Lions searching for fans as they seek to shed the skeletons

Photos
MLive
FreeP.com

I love this photo taken by Julian H. Gonzalez, of the Detroit Free Press. It shows the camaraderie between the quarterbacks.