Dan Orlovsky

The Detroit Lions benched starting quarterback Matthew Stafford for Dan Orlovsky after he threw his third interception in Sunday's meltdown against the Arizona Cardinals.

Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, was 20 of 32 passing for 188 yards at the time of his benching.

He threw an interception on the game's opening series, another on the Lions' first possession of the second quarter and was pulled after Patrick Peterson picked off a fourth-and-3 pass intended for Calvin Johnson on the Lions' opening drive of the second half.

Stafford had taken every Lions snap but two kneel-downs since the 2013 season, and had never been pulled in a game except for injury or competitive reasons in his seven-year career.

Both Lions coach Jim Caldwell and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi defended Stafford this week, with Lombardi saying, "I still don't think he's broken," a reference to comments he made after being hired as coordinator in January of 2014.

Stafford and Lombardi had a brief, non-animated exchange on the sideline after Stafford was benched. Stafford then stood alone near the 40-yard line while Orlovsky warmed up on the sideline. The Lions said Stafford was not pulled for injury reasons, the story said. It's interesting to note, the Lions signed Stafford to a three-year extension worth $41.7 million in the summer of 2013. But they can get out of the deal without owing Stafford any more money after this season. Stafford, who turns 28 in February, has no guaranteed money left on his deal, but he still would count $11 million against the salary cap if the Lions decide to go in another direction. His Week 6 status is in question at this point as the Lions host Chicago in an early afternoon game.