The Detroit Lions will be without starting Quarterback Matthew Stafford this Sunday when they host the Dallas Cowboys. He has been officially ruled out due to fractures in his back; the second-straight game that Stafford will miss with the injury.
Fourth-year backup QB Jeff Driskel will get the start as he did last week against the Chicago Bears. The Lions lost that game 20-13, and Driskel went 1-4 as a starter last season when playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stafford’s status was confirmed this morning by Lions’ Head Coach Matt Patricia.
Losing Stafford could leave Detroit completely crippled on offense. While they have one of the league’s top passing offenses so far in 2019, that was all Matt’s work at QB. Now they are missing both their starting QB and their top running back, Kerryon Johnson, who went on injured reserve in Week 7.
That said, Detroit did put up 357 total offensive yards last week against the Bears with Driskel starting. Given the quality of Chicago’s defense and that the Lions were playing on the road, that’s a strong number.
It will be interesting to see how Dallas strategizes on defense after last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys were completely run over by Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, so will increased focus on run defense creates opportunities for Driskel and the Lions’ receivers?
However it shakes out, Matthew Stafford’s absence definitely helps the Cowboys. He is still one of the top quarterbacks in football and had a top-five passer rating before the injury.
We never root for injuries but such is life in the NFL. Sometimes you get the benefit, sometimes you’re on the losing end.
Hopefully, this turn of fate helps Dallas get a much-needed victory.
