Lions at Buccaneers
THE STORY: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't yet lived up to the expectations that come with being a No. 1 overall pick in 2009, especially considering what Josh Freeman has given the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the No. 17 pick they used on him that season. The duo will get a side-by-side comparison Sunday as the Bucs host the Lions in the season opener. The Buccaneers have won five of the past seven meetings, but Detroit won the most recent one, a 23-20 overtime victory at Tampa Bay in December.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Buccaneers -1.5, O/U 41
ABOUT THE LIONS (2010: 6-10, T-3rd NFC North): Detroit's offense was clicking in the preseason, as the Lions led all teams with 114 points. Stafford, who needs 198 yards to reach 3,000 for his career, led the NFL in the preseason with a 154.7 rating. With Stafford finally healthy and throwing to Calvin Johnson, the Lions should have a passing game to complement second-year RB Jahvid Best, who led all rookies with 1,042 scrimmage yards and scored six touchdowns last season. The Lions also should have an improved defense anchored by second-year DT Ndamukong Suh and DE Cliff Avril.
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (2010: 10-6, 3rd NFC South): The Buccaneers traditionally have leaned on a strong defense but, led by Freeman, the offense has started to round into form. Freeman has thrown a touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games, a franchise record, and his 95.9 rating ranked third in the NFC last season. He has a bruising running back behind him in LeGarrette Blount, who led all rookies with 1,007 rushing yards last season and became the third Tampa Bay rookie to rush for more than 1,000 yards.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Despite being limited to 13 games over his first two seasons, Stafford is the only player in Lions history to throw at least four touchdown passes in a game twice in his first two years.
2. With 3,451 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, Freeman became only the second player in franchise history with 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season.
3. Tampa Bay TE Kellen Winslow Jr. has a reception in 76 consecutive games.