DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 23: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions reacts to play in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota Vikings won 27 - 9. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)The 3-6-1 Detroit Lions take on the 1-9 Washington Redskins this weekend hoping to avoid their fourth loss in a row. That task will become a lot harder – even against lowly Washington – without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Unfortunately, Stafford won’t be able to suit up for this one after all as he continues to recover from back fractures.
According to Lions insider Tim Twentyman, Stafford has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Washington.
Matthew Stafford won’t play Sunday, per Matt Patricia. It’ll be his third game in a row missed.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) November 22, 2019
Stafford has missed the last two weeks of action due to the injury, leaving backup Jeff Driskel to carry the team.
But while Driskel has been conservative with the ball, his play wasn’t good enough to beat the Chicago Bears or Dallas Cowboys.
Against Dallas, Driskell played a very efficient game, posting a 109.3 passer rating in a 35-27 loss.
But playing against Washington has proven to be a useful cure for teams playing poorly. The Redskins might be winless were it not for a failed two-point conversion against Miami in Week 6.
More than anything, head coach Matt Patricia will need to show that he can still win without Stafford. He’s 9-16-1 since being hired last year, and his Lions are on pace for yet another fourth-place finish in the NFC North.
