ALLEN PARK — Drew Stanton will get his first NFL start on Sunday at San Francisco. Coach Jim Schwartz announced the quarterback decision today. Stanton played the second half on Sunday and helped the offense put 17 points on the board in the 31-24 loss to Arizona.

“I thought after the second half, the stats didn’t bear out, but he moved the team and he scored points. The one thing, Drew in his career has never gone through a week as a starter getting the starter reps and having that time to prepare. He was able to do some things not getting a lot of reps in the past,’’ Schwartz said.

Stanton, in his third season with the Lions, played at Farmington Hills Harrison and Michigan State.

Veteran Daunte Culpepper had started the previous two games and will be the backup.

Matthew Stafford will miss his third straight game after aggravating his separated left, non-throwing shoulder on Thanksgiving in the loss to Green Bay.

Stafford said today that he has not given up on being able to play in the season finale on Jan. 3 against Chicago.

 For more on Stanton, see Thursday’s Oakland Press.
   — PAULA PASCHE