Oct 11, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Lions QB Matthew Stafford set the emotional tone for his team's first win of the season. Tim Fuller USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is a talented passer, but he is not widely known as a field general who can rally his troops with a stirring speech.
However, that's exactly what Stafford did before the Lions took on the Chicago Bears in Week 6. His motivational tactic led to a 37-34 win in overtime -- Detroit's first of the season.
Lions kicker Matt Prater described it as Stafford's "most memorable" pre-game speech, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
"He was fired up and a little emotional," Prater said. "It was big, it was huge, it was awesome. It made me want to play something else besides kicker."
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell praised Stafford's leadership, via the Free Press:
I think that's what leaders do. I think we have a good number of them on our squad and, oftentimes, you guys only hear about things every once in a while, but our leaders speak every day. Every day, they break the huddle down.
There's multiple guys that, I think, have great things to say in terms of just their teammates and trying to rally them and those kinds of things. It's not something that's unusual for us. I think it's unusual for you guys to hear it, so oftentimes it seems like a huge splash. But, nevertheless, I think that's an important part of the principles of team, the dynamics of team, I think that's a really important part.
The Lions are 1-5 heading into Week 7, so they'll need several more inspiring speeches from Stafford in order to turn this season around.
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