Lions unsure about Matthew Stafford on Sunday
The Detroit Lions are all but out of the playoff race in the stacked NFC. Detroit has lost its last two games including an embarrassing 44-20 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, putting them at 6-6.
This weekend, the Lions are on the road once again to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is questionable for the contest with a hand injury that was sustained against Baltimore, putting Jake Rudock on watch for his first start. Per ESPN, Stafford felt a good week of practice would go a long way toward making the decision for Sunday, and although he practiced on Friday, his status remains unknown.
“It’ll be important to take a look at it and see how it’s feeling,” Stafford said Wednesday. “And hopefully get it progressing throughout the week.”
Without Stafford, it’s hard to imagine the Buccaneers losing at home to Detroit, even if Tampa Bay is 4-8. While the Lions have very minimal hope of making the postseason, they still have a mathematical chance, and for that reason alone, Stafford will be pushed out there if it’s at all possible.
Stafford, who was drafted first-overall out of the University of Georgia back in 2009, has never been to the postseason in consecutive years. The Lions were able to get into the playoffs last year, but fell in the Wild Card round against the Seattle Seahawks. Stafford has only been to the playoffs three times in his entire career, and each time has lost without advancement. As a franchise, Detroit has not won a postseason game since 1991 when it defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional round.
Stafford might very well be one of the more underrated players in the game. The 29-year-old has thrown for 33,605 yards and 209 touchdowns. The former Georgia star is on pace for his seventh consecutive 4,000-yard season, including a 5,000-yard campaign in 2011, when he tossed a season-high 41 touchdowns.
Nobody would reasonably argue that Stafford is on the same level as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees, but he’s on the next level. He’s never worked with a quality running back or a good head coach, and yet he’s putting up Pro Bowl numbers on a consistent basis. If he had the requisite help, the Lions would be one of the best teams on an annual basis, something Motown unfortunately has not known since the days of Bobby Layne.
On Sunday, the Lions play for any remaining hope this season. With Stafford on the field, Detroit has a good chance. Without him, it’s likely all over. Again.
