Dan Campbell praised Matthew Stafford's toughness after the Lions' win over the Rams

Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams traveled to Ford Field on Sunday night to face the Detroit Lions in Week 1, but lost 20-26 in overtime.

Stafford took a few hits throughout the evening and was even seen on the sidelines getting his ankle bandaged. Stafford battled through some discomfort, kept the Rams in check throughout and scored a late touchdown with Cooper Kupp that gave LA a late lead in the fourth quarter.

After the game, Dan Campbell praised Stafford, who spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Lions, and paid tribute to the veteran quarterback for his toughness and strength.

“It's almost like you don't want to hit him because he plays better when you hit him,” Campbell said of Stafford, via Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit.

Stafford was sacked twice in the loss, but he was impressive in the air, completing 34 of 49 passing attempts for 317 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Despite Detroit pressuring him in the pocket, the 36-year-old didn't let that slow him down in the slightest, earning praise from Campbell, a coach known for his toughness.

It was Stafford's second trip to Detroit in the last two years after the Rams were knocked out of the playoffs last season with a heartbreaking loss at Ford Field. Campbell is very familiar with the former No. 1 pick and was visibly impressed with his determination on Sunday night.