The Detroit Lions have had a rocky history when it comes to their starting quarterbacks. In 2013, the team had high hopes for their new starting quarterback, hoping he would be the one to lead them to success. Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as planned. In this article, we'll take a look back at the 2013 season and the Lions' starting quarterback, examining what went wrong and what could have been done differently.
The Lions' Quarterback Situation Before 2013
Before we dive into the 2013 season, let's take a quick look at the Lions' recent quarterback history. In 2009, the team drafted Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick. Stafford showed promise in his first few seasons, but injuries kept him from reaching his full potential. In 2012, the Lions brought in Shaun Hill as a backup quarterback. Hill performed well in limited action, but the team knew they needed to find a more reliable backup.
The Arrival of the New Quarterback
In the 2013 offseason, the Lions made a controversial decision. They signed veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez to be their backup, and then traded away Shaun Hill to the St. Louis Rams. This left the team with no experienced backup for Stafford. However, the Lions had a plan. They had their eyes on a young quarterback who they believed had the potential to be their future starter.
The Young Quarterback's Background
The young quarterback in question was none other than Kellen Moore. Moore had been a standout quarterback in college, setting records at Boise State. However, he had gone undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and had spent the previous season on the Lions' practice squad. The team had been impressed with Moore's work ethic and football IQ, and they believed he was ready to take the next step.
The 2013 Season Begins
As the 2013 season began, the Lions were feeling confident. They had a strong offense led by Stafford, and they believed they had a promising young quarterback waiting in the wings. However, things didn't go quite as planned.
Injuries Strike
Early in the season, Stafford suffered an injury that forced him to miss a game. The Lions turned to their new backup, Mark Sanchez, but he struggled to lead the team to victory. Then disaster struck. In Week 3, Stafford suffered another injury, this time a more serious one that would keep him out for several weeks.
The Rise of Kellen Moore
With Stafford out, the Lions turned to Kellen Moore as their starting quarterback. Moore had never played in an NFL game before, but the team had faith in his abilities. To their surprise, Moore played extremely well. He showed excellent poise in the pocket and a good understanding of the offense. The Lions won their next two games with Moore at the helm.
The Lions' Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
However, things took a turn for the worse in Week 6. The Lions were playing the Green Bay Packers, and Moore struggled. He threw two interceptions and was unable to lead the team to victory. The loss was a big blow to the Lions' playoff hopes, and they knew they needed to make a change.
The Return of Stafford
After several weeks on the sidelines, Stafford was finally healthy enough to return. The Lions were happy to have their starting quarterback back, but they couldn't help but wonder what might have been if Moore had continued to play well. The team finished the season with a disappointing 7-9 record, missing the playoffs once again.
Conclusion
In the end, the Lions' experiment with Kellen Moore as their starting quarterback was a mixed bag. While Moore showed promise, he also had his struggles. The team ultimately decided to stick with Stafford, who had shown enough potential in his previous seasons to warrant another chance. While the Lions didn't make the playoffs in 2013, they continued to build for the future, hoping that one day they would find the right quarterback to lead them to success.
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