Matthew Stafford got what he deserved with every last boo in his return to Ford Field

Free Press columnist Carlos Monarrez tackles three tough questions after the Detroit Lions’ 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday:

What did you think of Stafford’s reception in his Ford Field return?

Former longtime Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford made his Ford Field debut as a visitor almost exactly three years to the day since requesting a trade with a new regime coming. He got exactly what he deserved. Lions fans, faithful for 12 years to Stafford, booed him loudly and the few leftover No. 9 Stafford Lions jerseys that could be spotted had his name covered up. They booed Stafford when he took the field for pregame warmups, they booed him during the coin toss and they booed him so loudly on the Rams’ first offensive snap that Stafford had to step away from the line of scrimmage and use hand signals. Fans also chose a great way to show up Stafford by chanting “JAR-ED GOFF! JAR-ED GOFF!” when they showed him on the big screen. Give him credit for playing through a hand injury and what looked like a rib injury. But after bringing the Lions little more than hope and heartache for a dozen years, Stafford deserved every last boo. Thankfully, the Stafford era was officially buried Sunday night.

STARRY NIGHT: Former Detroit Lions players and celebrity fans show out for first playoff game at Ford Field

What did you think of this defense-optional game?

Well, we knew it was going to be somewhat of a shootout with both teams lacking anything resembling an elite defense. The Lions were at least blitzing effectively recently and had seven interceptions in the three previous games. The blitz came often but wasn’t nearly as effective against a decent offensive line and a savvy veteran such as Stafford. Aidan Hutchinson was the only defensive lineman applying consistent pressure on the quarterback. The defensive woes aren’t anything new, but the Lions are going to have a hard time consistently winning a shootout the deeper they go in the playoffs. If coordinator Aaron Glenn had any kind of trick up his sleeve, Sunday was the time to break it out. As much as I blame Glenn for the defense’s woes, general manager Brad Holmes also deserves blame for not adding edge-rusher help at the trade deadline.

How about the other quarterback?

You’ve got to give Jared Goff all the credit in the world. Let’s be totally honest with ourselves. Stafford is a better quarterback. He has a better arm, has better pocket sense, can avoid pressure and still make throws consistently, and makes smarter decisions. But Goff played as well as I’ve ever seen him play in a game that had to be almost as emotionally charged for the ex-Rams QB as it was for Stafford. It certainly helped that Rams safety Jordan Fuller, who shared the team lead with three interceptions, was inactive with an ankle injury. If Goff continues to play this way, racking up the points by adhering to Ben Johnson’s superlative play-calling, the Lions should have a puncher’s chance against any team they face in the playoffs. It will only help that they get to host either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Philadelphia Eagles in a second playoff game next week, thanks to the Dallas Cowboys losing to the Green Bay Packers.

Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Matthew Stafford deserved every last boo in his return to Ford Field