Detroit Lions: Sitting a Healthy Matthew Stafford would be Foolish
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions shouldn’t sit quarterback Matthew Stafford once he’s fully healthy. He’s in the midst of a career year, but a lingering back injury has yet again become an issue. Unlike last season, this time Detroit decided to rest Stafford who’s dealing with those broken bones in his back along with a sore hip.
Sitting Matthew Stafford, this past Sunday cost the Detroit Lions a win against the Chicago Bears. The Bears haven’t been very good this season and barely edged the Lions who deployed Jeff Driskel under center. There is no reason for the Lions to sit their star quarterback who is thriving in this new Darrell Bevell led offense if he becomes fully healthy again this season.
It’s apparent that the Lions don’t have a top-notch backup quarterback. This summer, they tried veteran journeyman Josh Johnson who beat out Tom Savage during the preseason but failed to remain with the team as the year wore on. Detroit also had David Fales rostered, who was merely terrible.
Jeff Driskel is the next man up and he went 27/46 Sunday, throwing for 269 yards and a touchdown. He couldn’t generate enough offense on his own with the Detroit Lions run game continuing their trend of 2019 of being invisible. It just proves how good Stafford is playing in ’19. He can carry the offense with his arm, when everyone in the world realizes the Lions can’t muster any type of rushing attack. Driskel led the Lions in rushing yards last week with 37 yards on 5 scrambles–that’s how bad this rushing attack is.
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It appears that Matthew Stafford could be sidelined for a few weeks. The 20-13 loss to Mitchell Trubisky inevitably ended the Lions season, but that shouldn’t mean Matthew Stafford shouldn’t return under center this season once he’s fully healthy. The key here is ‘fully healthy.’ Detroit shouldn’t allow Matt to play even if he’s 99% healthy because there is no need for that. Detroit would need to win out to have a chance at the Wild Card. That isn’t going to happen, folks.
Remember, this is a new offensive scheme. Stafford needs all the work in this system that he can get. The remainder of the season will be low-pressure work as the Lions won’t be competing for an offseason spot.
It’s an excellent opportunity for Stafford and the rest of the offense to continue to grow in this system, continue to get their timing down, expand the receiving route trees and for the love of god somehow try to produce a somewhat respectable rushing attack. This will all help for next season. Believe it or not, this coaching staff isn’t going anywhere.
Perhaps the Lions will fire Paul Pasqualoni, the defensive coordinator, but that move would just be a scapegoat for head coach Matt Patricia who I believe actually runs the defense. Darrell Bevell will be back next season, especially with how efficient Stafford had played up until his injury.
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Stafford has passed for 2499 yards, 19 touchdowns just 5 interceptions, and is completing 64.3% of his passes. The Detroit Lions need to upgrade their O-line and add a capable running back to split time with the often injured Kerryon Johnson, and Darrell Bevell’s offense will shine.