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Matthew Stafford cuts throwing hand in playoff game vs. Detroit Lions

jared ramsey, detroit free press
·2 min read
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Matthew Stafford did not take long to start picking up some nicks in bruises in his return to Detroit.

On the final play of the first quarter of the playoff game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, Stafford was holding his throwing hand after it collided with Alim McNeill's helmet on a follow-through of a throw. Stafford dropped his arm slot and slung a sidearm throw to Demarcus Robinson for a 19-yard completion and first down, but followed through into McNeill's helmet.

Stafford's hand started bleeding after the contact and team trainers applied aid during the quarter break, meaning he missed no game action. On his next pass attempt, Stafford showed he was fine as he uncorked a 50-yard bomb to Puka Nacua along the sidelines to make the score 14-10, Lions early in the second quarter.

The NBC broadcast continued to show shots of trainers applying a towel to Stafford's hand, which had an open cut between his index and middle finger despite showing no signs of being injured with his throws.

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The Lions responded with their third touchdown drive on the first three possessions of the game to push the lead back to 11 points, but Stafford answered immediately with another long bomb for a touchdown on the next drive. After converting on fourth down with a completion to Cooper Kupp,

Stafford followed it up with a dot to Tutu Atwell on a deep crossing route. Atwell made the catch while Kindle Vildor was draped on his back, shook free and flipped into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown to make it 21-17.

Stafford missed one game during the middle of the regular season with a sprained ligament in his right thumb, before returning to lead the Rams on its late-season surge that helped them into the playoffs. He also played through a ligament tear in his thumb during his final season in Detroit before being traded.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Matthew Stafford cuts throwing hand in playoff game vs. Detroit Lions