DETROIT -- It was a historic moment at Ford Field tonight when Vikings quarterback Brett Favre did not start Monday night, breaking his string of 297 straight starts dating back to Sept. 27, 1992.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz, a Baltimore native, is well aware of sports streaks such as one involving Cal Ripken.

“Football is a completely different sport, playing the quarterback position you have a ... everybody kids them because they wear red shirts on practice days but they may as well have a red shirt on Sunday as far as being a target because everybody is going to go after them,’’ Schwartz said.

Favre was at Ford Field, but could not play because of a sprain on his throwing shoulder. It is unknown if he’ll be back for the final three games of the season.

“It’s a tough physical position to play and you’re never in the poistion -- where you’re the one who is delivering. Everybody talks about being the hammer or the nail, quarterback are very rarely in a position to be a nail,’’ Schwartz added. “Sometimes it takes a lot of self-sacrifice and courage to stand and make a play you need to do for your offense, for your team when you know you’re going to take a hit.’’

Schwartz said he’d been around a lot of tough quarterbacks including Steve McNair.

“It hasn’t been that he’s been healthy that entire streak, it’s that he’s been able to play with the injuries that he’s had. That speaks to his toughness, his body, his ability to get out there and his longevity,’’ Schwartz said.

“The other thing, you don’t start 297 if you’re not a really good player,’’ Schwartz said. “There’s a reason he’s started all those it’s because he’s really good.’’

One of the best.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)