QB Hill helping Detroit progress without Stafford

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matthew Stafford, sure. Ndamukong Suh, you bet.

But there's no way the Lions looked ahead to the 2010 season and figured on veteran quarterback Shaun Hill playing a major role.

The Lions acquired Hill in the offseason as a backup to Stafford, a former No. 1 pick. But it was Hill who was the offensive star of Detroit's first win of the season, a 44-6 thumping of St. Louis over the weekend. In his fourth start since Stafford's injury in the season opener, Hill threw for 227 yards and three touchdownsin the much-needed victory.

"I wish so badly that it didn't take so long to get this feeling, but it does feel great to get a win in the way that we …