Matthew Stafford, the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, was scheduled to return to Detroit in 2024. Instead, Stafford will return to Detroit with the season on the line when the Rams take on the Lions in the Wild Card Round. It’s almost as if the football gods had planned it this way. I am confident that narrative will not be stretched in the slightest this week.
Leading up to the playoffs, the veteran quarterback is “definitely excited” to return to Ford Field on Sunday.
“It’ll be fun to see some of the people I haven’t seen in a while but know are still in the building. Obviously, it will be a different scenario, and they will not be wearing their colors. But I still appreciate so many of the people there that gave me my start in this league and took care of me for 12 years, too,” Stafford said in his postgame remarks on January 7.
While Staff isn’t making a big deal out of his return, it must be difficult not to feel bittersweet about it. Matt appeared in three playoff games for the Lions during his 12-year tenure, all of which were losses, and he was unable to host any of them at home. Detroit drafted him specifically for these types of games. However, circumstances largely beyond his control, such as being held back by a generally bad organization, prevented him from doing so.
Stafford will realize as the game approaches just how difficult it is for high-profile quarterbacks to face their former teams.
Dolphins-Cowboys’ 1993 Thanksgiving deserves a rewind.
The most memorable homecoming was Peyton Manning’s return to the Colts during the 2013 season. Manning was in his second season with the Broncos at the time, having spent the first 14 years of his legendary career in Indianapolis. Denver trailed 33-14 before Manning nearly led his team to an unlikely comeback before falling 39-33.
Tom Brady returned to Foxborough in 2021, while also entering his second season with his new team. On top of that homecoming, Brady had to face his former defensive mastermind and head coach, Bill Belichick. The Buccaneers narrowly defeated the Patriots 19-17 in a mostly forgettable performance by the future Hall of Famer. Brady completed only 51% of his passes, finishing with a passer rating of 70.8.
Russell Wilson did not have the luxury of waiting before facing the Seahawks in his Broncos debut. Unlike Manning and Brady, who left their teams in free agency, Wilson wanted to be traded and quickly realized that the grass is not always greener on the other end. Despite spending his first ten years in Seattle, the fans let out the boo birds.
Russ was unable to lead Broncos Country to victory, and Nathaniel Hackett happened. The Broncos lost 17-16 because Hackett foolishly chose to kick a 64-yard field goal rather than trusting his highly paid star with the game on the line.
Stafford, like Wilson, wanted a trade from the only team he had ever known before arriving in Los Angeles. Matt desired the opportunity to win a Super Bowl ring, which was never going to happen in Detroit. The desire to play for a contender was understandable, as years of losing and mismanagement had finally broken him.
For the most part, I expect Stafford to elicit mostly cheers from Lions fans. There will be boos, of course, but not to the extent that the 12s unleashed on Wilson. Nothing suggests that this game is about Stafford seeking vengeance for all of his missed opportunities with the Lions.
Matthew Stafford appears to have nothing but love for the team that raised him for 12 years, as evidenced by his locker room comments.
