Stafford, Calvin star as Lions finish strong
Chicago — If this was the last time Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson played together, it was an accurate representation of the good times they’ve had together.
In a 24-20 win over the Bears at Soldier Field, Stafford and Johnson carried the Lions to a victory that ended a sour season on a sweet note.
Stafford was precise for most of the game, finishing 28-of-39 for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson was the top target, as he’s been for Stafford’s entire seven-year career, with 10 catches for 137 yards.
Now, as the Lions prepare to hire a new general manager, sweeping changes could be coming, but after the game, the 30-year-old Johnson isn’t thinking about the possibility that this was his final game with the team that drafted him in 2007.
“It’s not in my control,” said Johnson, who has a $24 million salary cap hit in 2016. “The only things that I do are in my control. Whatever decision they make, that’s up to them. I’m just going to enjoy this downtime and go from there.”
And now, speculation will continue until the next GM makes a decision on Johnson, whether it’s keeping him on his current salary, having him take a pay cut, cutting him or trading him. He kept the football after scoring a 36-yard touchdown, but downplayed the significance.
After a disastrous 1-7 start to the season that resulted in the firing of top executives Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew, as well as three assistant coaches, the Lions closed the season on a 6-2 run to finish 7-9.
And Stafford’s excellent play was a major reason for the turnaround. Over the past eight games, he’s had a 110.1 passer rating and completed 70 percent of his passes, the best marks in franchise history over eight games.
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Stafford also threw 19 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions in the second half after having a 13-to-11 ratio in the first half. Coach Jim Caldwell, whose future is in question like many other people involved with the team, said Stafford’s recent performance should provide optimism for the future.
“I think you’re just going to continue to see him get better,” Caldwell said. “He’s been excellent.”
Even though Stafford has a $22.5 million cap hit next year, his play should leave little doubt that he’ll be the starter again in 2016.
“He’s our quarterback,” president Rod Wood said when asked about Stafford remaining the face of the franchise.
Kicker Matt Prater made a 59-yard field goal at the end of the first half, the longest in team history, and defensive end Ziggy Ansah added a sack, putting his total at 14.5 in his breakout season.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler completed 17-of-23 passes for 245 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Running back Matt Forte had 17 carries for 76 yards and three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions started the scoring right away with a 77-yard opening drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown catch by tight end Tim Wright, and the Lions remained in control for nearly the entire first half.
The Bears drove to the Detroit 5 on their opening possession, but Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson deflected a pass in the end zone and safety James Ihedgibo was in perfect position for the interception.
The Lions couldn't take advantage of the turnover as they went three-and-out on the ensuing possession. On their next drive, Prater missed a 54-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
The Lions made it to the Bears' side of the field on their next possession, too, but on fourth-and-3 from the Chicago 35, an incomplete pass gave the Bears the ball with 39 seconds left.
However, the turnover on downs didn't cost the Lions much as the third play of the Bears' possession was an interception by linebacker Tahir Whitehead, who snagged the pass after Ansah hit Cutler's arm.
The Lions took over at the Chicago 38 with 11 seconds left in the half. After a 10-yard sack and an 8-yard catch by Johnson, Prater made his 59-yard field goal to put Detroit up 10-0 at halftime.
The second half was far tougher for the Lions. The Bears drove to a field goal, a 49-yarder by Robbie Gould, to open the third quarter.
Then, after a three-and-out by the Lions, the Bears quickly added a touchdown, a 34-yard pass over the top to Josh Bellamy. Suddenly, with 5:28 left in the third quarter, it was 10-10.
But the Lions responded as Johnson caught a diving 36-yard touchdown on the eighth play of the next drive, giving the Lions a 17-10 lead with 1:07 left in the third quarter.
“He was tremendous all the way around,” Caldwell said of Johnson.
Meanwhile, the Lions defense, particularly the secondary, continued to struggle against the Bears offense. Cutler hit wide receiver Deonte Thompson with a 45-yard pass on the next drive, and a few plays later, Forte scored on a 23-yard reception to tie the game with 13:20 remaining in regulation.
Once again, though, the Lions answered the Chicago score. Running back Joique Bell had a 36-yard catch-and-run on a deceptive screen play that included multiple fakes, and the drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown catch by tight end Eric Ebron.
The back-and-forth scoring continued, but the Lions did well to hold the Bears to a field goal on the following possession. Gould's 34-yarder cut the Lions' lead to 24-20 with 5:44 left in the game, but that was the final score as safety Glover Quin intercepted Cutler on the Bears’ next drive, giving the Lions offense a chance to run out the clock.
Now, people like Johnson will wait to see what the future holds and whether or not this was his final game with the Lions.
“You never know, man,” he said. “If it is, though, you want to go out like that, (with a) win.”
jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com
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Lions 2016 leaders
Passing yards: Matthew Stafford (4,262)
Rushing yards: Ameer Abdullah (597)
Receiving yards: Calvin Johnson (1,214)
Receptions: Johnson and Tate (88)
Tackles: Stephen Tulloch (107)
Sacks: Ezekiel Ansah (14.5)
Passes defensed: Darius Slay (13)
Interceptions: Glover Quin (4)
Scoring: Matt Prater (102)
Kickoff return yards: Abdullah (1,077)
Punt return yards: Tate (149)