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Lions' Matthew Stafford to face Bucs despite ailing hand

NFL, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Stafford had been listed as questionable due to a bruised right hand suffered when linebacker Terrell Suggs inadvertently stepped on Stafford during last Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Second in the NFL with 3,302 passing yards entering Week 14, Stafford was surprised X-rays did not show a break, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, as his hand is swollen and uncomfortable.

But after practicing on a limited basis all week with tape on his hand, Stafford is expected to play, and the warm weather in Tampa is expected to help with his injury.

The Lions had given extra reps to backup Jake Rudock in case Stafford would be unavailable.

Detroit will be without running back Ameer Abdullah, who was listed as inactive and will miss his second straight game with a neck injury.

Stafford has started 108 consecutive games for Detroit since the start of the 2011 season -- the third-longest active starting streak among quarterbacks in the NFL.

The Lions (6-6) will try to snap a two-game losing streak Sunday as they seek to remain in contention for the postseason with four games left.

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