DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the start of the preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on August 28 2010 in Detroit Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Stafford and the Lions will enter Sunday's game as 9-point favorites over the Rams.
A pair of former No. 1 overall draft picks will square off on Sunday afternoon to open the NFL season from Ford Field, as Detroit's Matthew Stafford will play host to Sam Bradford and the Rams in a Week 1 battle.
Stafford, who threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, enters the 2012 campaign with a bevy of expectations as the Lions knock at the door of the NFL's elite. The fourth-year signal caller will continue to reap the rewards from his unrivaled connection to star receiver Calvin Johnson, a 6'5 athletic freak who should once again pace the NFL in touchdowns at the position.
Though he was selected one year later than Stafford after famously spurning the 2009 NFL Draft, a 24-year-old Sam Bradford has matured significantly after being tossed into the starter's role upon entering the league. Injuries limited him to just 10 games last year, but Bradford's role as a leader became even more vital after the team brought in new coach Jeff Fisher this offseason.
Game time/date: 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 9
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
TV: FOX
Spread: Detroit -9
Be sure to visit Pride of Detroit for more Lions coverage, and head over to Turf Show Times for more on the Rams. Also check out SB Nation's NFL hub for more news from around the league.
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