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ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Matthew Staffords homecoming is a secondary story line this weekend — if that.Still, theres something fitting about the fact that Detroits quarterback will play perhaps the biggest game of his career against the team he grew up rooting for in the Dallas suburbs — the Lions open the post-season in Texas against the Cowboys on Sunday.I dont need much motivation, its a playoff game. Win or go home gives you enough motivation, Stafford said. Obviously, itll be fun playing in front of a bunch of my friends and family, but other than that, just trying to win a football game.Stafford could really use a victory in this one. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, hes put up big numbers during his career and helped the Lions return to respectability, but thats the extent of his accomplishments so far.This is the teams second post-season appearance with Stafford, and the Lions still have only one playoff win in the Super Bowl era — against Dallas in January 1992.The 26-year-old Stafford is at the point in his career where more is expected from a franchise quarterback, and an uneven regular season did little to quiet his legion of skeptics — even though the Lions went 11-5 to secure an NFC wild card.I was getting criticized when I was throwing for 5,000 yards, 4,000 yards and not winning games. Im going to get criticized, Stafford said. If you try and make everybody happy its going to be a long day for you.The Lions made the playoffs in large part because of their consistency. They beat the teams they were expected to beat, but they generally came up short in the toughest games on their schedule.Stafford is 0-17 on the road in his career against teams that finished the regular season with a winning record, according to STATS. That includes a playoff loss at New Orleans at the end of the 2011 season.It also includes last weekends loss at Green Bay, when the Lions had a chance to win the NFC North. Stafford was 20 of 41 for 217 yards and three touchdowns — good enough to keep Detroit in the game, but not good enough to win it.Stafford hasnt been helped much by his offensive line this season. Hes been sacked 45 times, and thats part of the reason hes thrown for only 4,257 yards — his fewest over a full season in his career.Coach Jim Caldwell made it clear he doesnt think Stafford alone will determine whether the Lions win or lose against Dallas.He has an opportunity to play great. Were hoping that he plays well, Caldwell said. It doesnt take him playing great for us to win. He just has to play well. Theres a lot of other people on that football team that have to do their job. Its absolutely not just a one-man show.One of Staffords best moments as a pro came last season in a home victory over Dallas. Stafford threw for 488 yards and won the game with a 1-yard run in the final seconds. Calvin Johnson had 14 catches for 329 yards in that game.It was a tough matchup for us and chips just fell where they did, Johnson said. We ended up having a great game on offence and it still was a close game. To be able to have the output I did in that game was crazy.Days like that have been few and far between for the Detroit passing game this season, but Stafford and Johnson are still one of the leagues most dangerous tandems — and another huge performance is always a possibility.There will be a time when you will say that Matthew Stafford is one heck of a quarterback, Caldwell said. Hes moving in that direction, and that could be come Sunday.NOTES: The Lions listed DT Nick Fairley (knee) as doubtful. He hasnt played since Oct. 26. OL Larry Warford (knee) is out.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL nfl jerseys cheap .Michael Briscoe is serving a life sentence for sexual assault, kidnapping and first-degree murder in the death of 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte in 2005. china jerseys nfl .com) - The Calgary Flames are spoilers once again. http://www.chinajerseysnflcheapwholesale.com/. -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night. wholesale jerseys for sale . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. jerseys nfl wholesale . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.DETROIT -- Max Scherzer gave Detroits beleaguered bullpen a bit of a breather. Scherzer struck out nine in seven innings -- fanning Mike Trout three times in the process -- and the Detroit Tigers finally managed to beat the Los Angeles Angels, 5-2 on Saturday. Detroit had dropped 10 straight to the Angels, including an 11-6 loss the previous night in which Los Angeles battered the Tigers with 10 extra-base hits. "I realized it was important to get deep into a game, and thats why even after the sixth inning I said, Let me go back out there," Scherzer said. "I know our bullpen has been taxed as of late." Nick Castellanos and Victor Martinez homered for the Tigers, who beat the Angels for the first time since Aug. 26, 2012. Albert Pujols hit his 498th homer, connecting for a solo shot in the ninth for Los Angeles. Scherzer (1-1) allowed a run and three hits with two walks. The AL Cy Young Award winner struck Pujols out twice and shut down Trout, rebounding quickly after giving up a homer to J.B. Shuck to lead off the game. "Some days youve just got to tip your cap. (Scherzer) made a few good pitches," Trout said. "Hes got good life on his fastball. The ball, in the middle, kind of rises up from that kind of sidearm motion." Joba Chamberlain struck out two in the eighth for the Tigers, and Joe Nathan got Trout looking to start the ninth. It was Trouts first career four-strikeout game. "Hes a great hitter, and I respect everything that he does," Scherzer said. "Youve got to be really aggressive right back at him." C.J. Wilson (2-2) gave up three earned runs in five innings. Shuck led off the game with a homer, but that was all the scoring for the Angels until Pujols homered for the second straight day, hitting his sixth shot of the season. In a sign of things to come, Scherzer struck out Trout, Pujols and Raul Ibanez immediately after allowing the homer to Shuck.dddddddddddd Wilson made it through a shaky first inning, but Castellanos hit a two-run homer in the second to put the Tigers ahead to stay. Detroit added an unearned run in the third. Miguel Cabrera reached on an error by right fielder Brennan Boesch and went to second on a wild pitch. Cabrera was then called out at third when Trout -- his foil from the last two American League MVP races -- made a nice throw from centre. The Tigers challenged the call, however, and Cabrera was ruled safe. Cabrera scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Jackson to make it 3-1. The Tigers thought theyd escaped a jam in the fourth when Ian Stewart was called out trying to steal second, but the Angels challenged and the call was overturned. With runners on second and third, Scherzer struck out Erick Aybar for the third out. Martinez added a solo homer in the fifth, and Ian Kinslers sacrifice fly in the eighth made it 5-1. Scherzer, meanwhile, looked every bit his Cy Young self. Trout, Pujols and Ibanez -- the second, third and fourth hitters in the Los Angeles lineup -- went 0 for 8 with seven strikeouts and a walk against the Detroit starter. "I cant say enough about how important that start was -- not only for us as a team, but just for the bullpen," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We had a bunch of guys out there who really could use a day off." Its no surprise when Scherzer pitches well, but Chamberlains performance may have been even more encouraging. He retired the side on eight pitches -- all strikes -- in the eighth. "If he keeps throwing all strikes, hell pitch a lot," Ausmus said. NOTES: The Angels have outscored opponents 19-5 in the first inning this year. ... Los Angeles entered the game with a major league-high 27 homers and an AL-worst 20 homers allowed -- then added to both those totals. ... Detroit RHP Rick Porcello (1-1) faces Angels LHP Hector Santiago (0-2) on Sunday. ' ' '