Notes: Matthew Stafford says Panthers game ‘doesn’t define us’

It’s probably not easy facing the music after a typical Detroit Lions loss, but following a shutout has to be about 10 times worse.

The Lions failed to score a single point on Sunday against a Carolina Panthers team led by a backup quarterback and without their star running back. This is the first time Detroit’s been shutout with Matthew Stafford at the helm.

On Sunday, Stafford did what he’s done many times in the last decade and stood at the podium to try and answer what went wrong.

“Obviously not fun to be part of a game where we don’t score any points and really don’t even threaten it. We’ve got to play better on offense and give ourselves a chance to win,” he said.

But Stafford emphasized this devastatingly disappointing loss isn’t what this team is about.

“It’s one football game. It doesn’t define us as an offense, or us as a team. We have to go out there in short order here on Thursday and play better. I know we’ll be motivated to—I know I will. I know guys are itching to probably get out there and go and make some plays and get that bad taste out of our mouth.”

Wouldn’t surprise me if Lions fans stuck to gravy this Turkey Day and kept the Lions off their TV screens, lest that bad taste return.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Albert Breer touches on the future of Lions leadership in this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback. “I don’t expect the Lions to make any big moves on Monday.”

• Jeff Seidel for the Detroit Free Press explains how Sheila Ford Hamp’s promise to Detroit fans to ensure major improvement won’t be kept if Matt Patricia remains head coach.

• Eastern Market Brewing Company came out with a Lions-themed beer..... Same Old Lager. Brian Manzullo for the Freep has more.

• I added the above article to my list of notes around noon and when I came back to finish Notes at 4 p.m., Barry Sanders came out saying he’s NOT on board with the company using his image. Ope.

• A stern column from Bob Wojnowski for the Detroit News — enough is enough for Patricia in Detroit. (Subscription required.)