Pounding fails to make Stafford go away

At least Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford took Sunday's colossal beating with a veteran's toughness and a good sense of humor.

"He was joking with me the whole game," Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards said. "He was saying, 'Ray, why you keep hitting me? Stay away from me a little bit.' He's definitely a fun guy. I can see that he enjoys the game."

Stafford lost the game 27-10, but the rookie No. 1 overall draft pick seemed to gain a certain amount of respect from some players in the Vikings' locker room.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact Stafford absorbed three sacks, 13 additional knockdowns and at least six dropped passes but kept bouncing back for more. Despite losing five players for the game because of injuries, including three free safeties, the Lions stayed competitive into the fourth quarter against a superior team due in large part to their gritty 21-year-old quarterback making his first appearance at the Metrodome.

"We weren't able to protect him, and he wasn't able to make throws," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "We tried to throw quickly, we tried to throw screens and we handled [the Vikings' pass rush] poorly as a team."

Of the numerous drops, the most aggravating for the Lions was a drop by receiver Bryant Johnson in the end zone with 22 seconds left in the first half. Stafford had stepped up to avoid the pass rush, moved to his left and still fired a perfect pass to the front, right part of the end zone. But instead of a 24-yard touchdown and a 10-7 deficit, the Lions had to settle for a field goal.

Stafford threw the ball 51 times, completing 29 for 224 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 74.3 passer rating. His touchdown pass -- an 8-yarder to tight end Will Heller that closed the gap to 17-10 in the third quarter -- came two plays after Edwards was penalized for unnecessary roughness on a helmet-to-helmet hit on Stafford.

Asked if it was the worst pounding he had ever sustained, Stafford said: "I don't know, maybe. It was a rough game. You know, they are good up front. They brought some good dogs and blitzes and got to us. We just have to play better."