Lions could be without Matthew Stafford against Titans

Matthew Stafford might not be ready to go in Week 15 against Tennessee.

While the Detroit Lions are preparing for another season in which they’ll watch the playoffs at home on TV, one of the few parts of this team that has been worth watching has been the play of quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Sadly, because Murphy’s Law continues to ravage the Lions, Stafford might not be able to start in Detroit’s Week 15 game due to a hamstring injury.

Stafford’s rib injury might be so severe that Chase Daniel, who spent the last few seasons as Mitch Trubisky’s backup in Chicago, might be forced to start for Detroit as they take on Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans.

Matthew Stafford has been playing well under Darrell Bevell

In 21 starts with Bevell as the offensive coordinator, Stafford has thrown 41 touchdown passes against just 14 interceptions. However, for a multitude of reasons, the Lions have won just eight games in that span.

With Darrell Bevell as the head coach, Detroit mounted a furious comeback in a victory against the Chicago Bears and hung with the Green Bay Packers before Aaron Rodgers took over. Stafford, who could end up traded at the end of the season, has excelled with the vertical elements of Bevell’s offense, and Daniel’s inferior arm talent could present some challenges for him.

With the defense still a mess and the Titans in the middle of competing for a division title, Detroit’s chances with Daniel under center aren’t exactly looking robust. At just 5-8, the most Daniel can do is delay their mathematical elimination from the postseason by a week.

After a resounding win against Jacksonville last week, Tennessee’s defense appears to have turned a corner. That newfound momentum could be a serious problem for the Lions if Daniel is inserted as the starter.