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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing without retired receiver Calvin Johnson and is still putting up some of the best numbers of his career.That leads to this question: Is Stafford a better quarterback now, without one of the best receivers in NFL history, than he was last season with Johnson?I think hes a growing and developing quarterback, so yes, I do think he was better than he was the last year, two years ago, three years ago, Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Thursday.Hopefully were all getting better every year. I think he falls into that category too. But I think hes doing a really good job with what were asking him to do and so are the receivers, tight ends and backs.Stafford, through five games, is on pace for the best completion percentage (68.0), passer rating (99.6) and QBR (66.4) of his career. The Lions have replaced Johnson with a multitude of options, but the biggest addition was Marvin Jones, who is the NFLs leading receiver with 519 yards.Stafford is also seeing things differently this season, and part of that is due to Johnsons departure.Stafford said Wednesday that hes not seeing as many crazy kick-to-Calvin coverages, when defenses would sometimes come up with special packages just to try to contain Johnson.Stafford said he will see different wrinkles each Sunday, but more than ever he is seeing the defensive coverages he watches on film during the week. That was something he anticipated might happen after Johnson announced his retirement in March.But more than anything else, Stafford might appear to be a better quarterback because of what Cooter is asking of him.Hes really just trying to throw it to the open guy. Its as simple as that. It sounds overly simple, but its a really big deal, Cooter said. You know, when you have Calvin Johnson out there, one of the all-time great receivers, going to the Hall of Fame as soon as you can get him in there, it makes a lot of sense to try and throw that guy the ball. Sometimes you might override your read to do that.Sometimes its easier for a quarterback [when] you have your reads, you have your progressions, you have your thought processes and you just go around throwing it to who gets open. Hes doing a good job of doing that. Soccer Jerseys Outlet . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Fake Soccer Jerseys . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Soccer Jerseys China . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Clearance Soccer Jerseys . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. ST. LOUIS -- Slugger Yoenis Cespedes turned out to be a nifty slider, too.Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright lost his glove trying to tag out Cespedes in a bizarre play, and the New York Mets broke away soon after that to beat St. Louis 10-6 Thursday night.Alejandro De Aza homered and drove in five runs, helping Seth Lugo earn his first major league win. The Mets led 3-0 in the fifth when Wainwright (9-8) and Cespedes were involved in a strange sequence.Cespedes tried to go from first to third on a bloop single by James Loney. When several Cardinals chased the ball, Wainwright covered third base. Cespedes slid and his cleat pinned Wainwrights glove to the bag -- he wouldve been out, but when Wainwright pulled away his hand, the mitt stayed stuck under Cespedes foot.Because Wainwright didnt control the ball, Cespedes was called safe in a ruling upheld by replay. Moments later, De Aza hit a three-run homer to make it 7-0.He said that when I pulled out the glove, I had to show possession, Wainwright said. I dont know what else I could have done there. There was another runner on base. Ive never seen it before, never heard of it before.De Azas fifth home run of the season came an inning after his two-run single. The five RBI set a career high.Every time you hit a home run its fun, De Aza said. Especially when you can contribute to help the team win. Its a great feeling.De Aza also made a jumping catch against the center field wall to rob Matt Carpenter of an extra-base hit in the first inning.He knows his role, Mets manager Terry Collins said. He doesnt have to like it, but he accepts it and he gets himself ready.He didnt stop working. He didnt stop all the practice. All he needed was a chance to get to play with it and when he got it hes made the most out of it, he said.Lugo (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings. The Mets took two of three to win their first series at Busch Stadium since 2008.This was a tough series, Collins said. Theyve got a good team and we came into this series knowing we had to pick up some ground and we picked up a game and that means a lot.ddddddddddddBrandon Moss hit two home runs for the Cardinals and Jedd Gyorko and Stephen Piscotty also connected.Lugo gave up two hits and struck out five to earn his first win since May 10 at Triple-A Las Vegas. On Tuesday night, Mets reliever Robert Gsellman also posted his first big league win.Together, Lugo and Gsellman helped the Mets win a road series from the first time since July 22-24 in Miami.Lugo left the game with right calf cramp while warming up before the sixth. By then, hed also gotten his first hit in the majors.The biggest thing for me is keeping from getting behind in the counts and having to throw pitches over the middle of the plate, Lugo said. It helps me expand the zone.James Loney got three hits and scored twice for the Mets. Loney is hitting .529 (18 for 34) against Wainwright for his career.Wainwright struggled for the third time in his last four starts, giving up seven runs -- only two earned -- and nine hits in five innings.Its another game that we lose in which I start and the offense scores some runs, Wainwright said. I dont know what else to say other than Ive got to keep going.TRAINERS ROOMMets: OF Jay Bruce (calf) was out of the lineup after leaving Wednesday nights game with cramps. ... LHP Jonathon Niese (left knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear.Cardinals: Matt Adams (right shoulder inflammation) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis. He batted second and hit a two-run homer Thursday for the Redbirds.UP NEXTMets: RHP Bartolo Colon (11-7, 3.36 ERA) will start off a 10-game homestand against Philadelphia. LHP Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.21 ERA) will start for the Phillies.Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (0-1, 5.00 ERA) will make his third major league start, facing Oakland. The As will counter with Ross Detwiler (1-2, 5.91 ERA). ' ' '