DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford stayed cool and calm after the shakiest first half of his career. Stafford threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Smith with 10 seconds left, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 27-23 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The No. 1 pick from the 2009 NFL draft had three interceptions before halftime for the first time. The Rams scored 13 points off Staffords turnovers, including Cortland Finnegans 31-yard return for a TD that gave them a 13-7 lead late in the first half, but they couldnt stop him in the end. Stafford led an 80-yard, nine-play, game-winning drive that included three passes of at least 18 yards and was capped by enough patience in the pocket to connect with a wide-open Smith. "Kevin was the last option on that play, probably behind throw it away because he was part of the play action and protection," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. "The head coach was on the headphones, Throw it away Matt, throw it away! It shows you what a good quarterback Id be." Stafford finished 32 of 48 for 355 yards. Detroits All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson caught six passes for 111 yards, including an 18-yard grab just before Smith was left alone for his second TD of the game. On the pivotal play, the Rams double-covered Johnson and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar seemed to lose sight of Smith. "I knew in that formation Calvin would get all of the attention," Stafford said. "Thats exactly what happened." Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick a year after Stafford, directed a go-ahead drive that set up Greg Zuerleins 46-yard field goal to put the Rams ahead 23-20 with 1:55 left. St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher, who is leading a franchise coming off the worst five-year span since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, put together a conservative game plan that almost worked. "Our plan was to try to hold them to field goals ... and then take your shots offensively," Fisher said. "Get your points and have a chance to win the game at the end." Bradford was hit by defensive end Cliff Avril on the games last play, leading to some pushing, shoving and shouting that didnt get out of hand in part because the officials separated the players. The replacement officials included line judge Shannon Eastin, who became the first woman to officiate an NFL regular-season game. Steven Jackson gained just 53 yards on 21 carries for an offence that couldnt take enough time off the clock on its next-to-last drive to prevent Stafford from getting the ball back. "Give the Lions credit, they made the big plays they needed at the end of the game," Finnegan said. "We did some really good things, but weve got to learn how to finish. That will come." St. Louis reshaped offensive line lost two starters during the game. Offensive tackle Rodger Saffold was carted off the field with a neck injury in the fourth quarter and centre Scott Wells had a foot injury. Fisher said Saffold was alert and had strength in his arms and legs. "This is more of a precautionary deal," Fisher said. "Theres a chance hell come home with us." Bradford was 17 of 25 for 198 yards with a TD, a 23-yard pass to Brandon Gibson early in the fourth quarter that put the Rams up 20-13. "We gave ourselves a chance to stay in the game and win it at the end," Fisher said. "I think we got better as a team." Early on, it looked like Stafford had taken a step back after throwing for 5,000-plus yards, 41 TDs and 16 interceptions last season to help Detroit end an 11-year post-season drought. Rookie Janoris Jenkins jumped a route and intercepted Staffords pass on the goal line to end his first drive, Dunbar stepped in front of another attempt and picked it off. Finnegan took advantage of an ill-advised throw across the field and returned it for a TD in his Rams debut. "We did a ton of film study on Stafford, and we knew what he likes to do," Finnegan said. "Our coaches gave us a great game plan ... We just needed to make one more play." Stafford, though, was the one who came up with the clutch plays to avoid an upset in the opener for both teams. "It wasnt like he was just having a bad day," Schwartz said. "He had a couple of bad plays. "You have to have a demeanour that allows you to come back from that." NOTES: Replacement official Paul Caldera left the game in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. He was replaced by alternate Curtis -- a replacement for the replacement. ... Detroit WR Titus Young was called for unnecessary roughness after he head-butted Jenkins. "It was right in front of me the whole time," Schwartz said. "It looked like he was going to walk away and do the right thing and then he made a dumb decision." ... Fisher hired Schwartz in 1999 to be on his staff at Tennessee and promoted him two years later to the Titans defensive co-ordinator, a job he had until Detroit gave him his first shot to be a head coach three years ago. ... Lions rookie CB Bill Bentley left the game with a concussion. ... St. Louis WR Danny Amendola had five catches for 70 yards. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/12th-fan-jersey.html]http://www.authen... . The 22-year-old Marussia driver had the best time of two minutes 49.354 seconds but six drivers -- including Red Bulls Mark Webber -- preferred not to go out in treacherous conditions. "The conditions have proved frustrating for everyone as there has been very little let-up in the rain," Pic said. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/]http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/... . The news comes just a week after the NHL announced the cancellation of Septembers preseason games. The rest of the exhibition schedule ran from October 1 through October 8. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/marshawn-lynch-jersey.html]http://www.... . Jenkins, will be making his first big league start after 10 consecutive relief outings. The 24-year-old allowed two hits and no runs through his first five outings across seven innings, but has been scored upon at least once in each of his last five performances. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/richard-sherman-jersey.html]http://www... . -- Giving Braylon Edwards another shot might have seemed like a move of desperation but it may turn out to be a shrewd decision by the Seattle Seahawks. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/russell-wilson-jersey.html]http://www.... . That blueprint has paid off against the Milwaukee Brewers this week. Carlos Gonzalez had four hits, Tyler Chatwood pitched six effective innings, and the Rockies beat the Brewers 8-6 on Tuesday night.WASHINGTON -- The Nationals acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics on Friday for minor league catcher David Freitas. The 28-year-old Suzuki, who had played all five-plus of his major league seasons with Oakland, is batting .218 with a home run and 18 RBIs. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he expects Suzuki to report in time for NL East-leading Washingtons Saturdays home game against Miami. In a strange twist, the As traded Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals in December and received both lefty starting pitcher Tommy Milone and catcher-of-the-future Derek Norris. Now, Suzuki will get to catch the All-Star Gonzalez again, across the country in the NL. Still, Oakland general manager Billy Beane said when Norris was promoted this spring it didnt necessarily mean Suzuki would be on the trading block. Everybody expected him to be gone soon, however. "Its a chance for us to move forward with Derek and a chance for Zuk to play every day somewhere else," As assistant general manager David Forst said. Washington wanted to improve its catching after the loss of Wilson Ramos with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Jesus Floores has been the starter, though Johnson referred to Suzuki as "a No.dddddddddddd. 1 catcher." When Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo brought up Suzuki to Johnson, the manager enthusiastically endorsed the acquisition. "I said, Man, that would definitely bolster our catching corps," said Johnson, who managed Suzuki in a 2006 U.S. Olympic qualifying tournament. Oakland is picking up some of the salary owed Suzuki, who is signed for $5 million this year and $6.45 million next season. His contract includes an $8.5 million team option for 2014 with a $650,000 buyout. "Hes in the Gold Glove conversation each and every year," Rizzo said. "Hes not a rental. Hes going to be here for more than this season." Flores had surgery on his right shoulder in September 2009 and missed the following season. Hes batting .225 with three home runs and 18 RBIs and has has thrown out just five of the 48 runners attempting to steal. Suzuki has thrown out 38 per cent of runners this season. "Flo is still having some problems. Hes not back to where he was," Johnson said. Freitas was batting .271 for Class-A Potomac. ' ' '