SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions after their 30-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford finished 34 of 53 passing for 347 yards and nearly led one of his patented comebacks, but he wasn’t very sharp overall. Stafford misfired on several connectable deep passes to Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay. If he hits any one of three or four plays, this game ends differently. Stafford also committed his fifth turnover of the season when he lost a first-half fumble after getting hit on a scramble.