Tag: Jeff Driskel

Highlights, player tracking of Cowboys biggest Week 11 plays

Dissecting the biggest plays in the Dallas Cowboys’ 35-27 victory against the Detroit Lions using EPA and Win Probability metrics.

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys picked up a much needed victory as they beat the Detroit Lions 35-27 in a close game. The Cowboys dominated on the offensive side of the ball while their defense continued to struggle, this time against a Lions team led by backup quarterback Jeff Driskel. The team’s defense has been a let down despite some stellar play from the defensive line. That being the case, the burden is on Dak Prescott to lead the offense in high scoring games, and on Sunday he once again proved more than capable.

It was an explosive game for both passing offenses as each team’s pass defense was lackluster.

Here are the biggest plays of the game in terms of Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability (WP) with data via nflscrapR. EPA measure the value of a play based on down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

Make sure to check out the multiple views of the player tracking data for unique insight into how the plays unfolded.

The Plays

No. 1: Ezekiel Elliott up the middle for 2 yards, FUMBLE

EPA: -4.2. DAL WP Shift: 48% -> 39%

Another game, another turnover on the Cowboys’ opening drive. The team has been known for their slow starts in 2019 and turnovers have been one of the biggest culprits. On the first rush of the game Elliott fumbled after being gang tackled by a pair of Lions. It was edge rusher Trey Flowers that forced the ball out with a recovery from linebacker Jarrad Davis.

The turnover proved to be a costly one as the Lions were able to turn it into their first score of the game. It was a seamless opening drive for the Lions who would start at their opponents’ 28-yard line. After a short drive, running back Bo Scarbrough scored on a 5-yard rush up the middle.

No. 2: Dak Prescott sacked by Devon Kennard for a loss of 10 yards

EPA: -2.4. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 34%

The Cowboys’ third drive of the game looked to be a promising one. Beginning at their own 14-yard line, they would slowly inch their way into a scoring opportunity. The drive spanned 14 plays, 79 yards gained and five first downs. Eventually the Cowboys found themselves at the Lions’ 2-yard line on a goal-to-go situation. On third down it was Lions edge rusher Devon Kennard that would generate the sack on a well-timed blitz call for a loss of 10 yards.

After the sack the Cowboys would have to settle for a 30-yard field goal try from Brett Maher putting the score at 7-3 late in the first quarter.

No. 3: Prescott pass short middle to Tony Pollard for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 3.5. DAL WP Shift: 44% -> 55%

Trailing by four points to start the second quarter the Cowboys would get their first touchdown of the game in style. Much like in their previous possession, their fourth drive would also be a long one. This drive covered 7 plays, 70 yards gained and three first downs. Their success was rewarded when Prescott connected with Pollard on a 21-yard reception for the score. Pollard flashed his explosive potential by forcing a missed tackle in route to his first career receiving touchdown.

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Lions Week 11 player of the game: Jeff Driskel

In his second start for the Detroit Lions, quarterback Jeff Driskel has earned himself Lions Wire player of the game honors in the Lions 35-27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

In his second start for the Detroit Lions, quarterback Jeff Driskel has earned himself Lions Wire player of the game honors in the Lions 35-27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Despite the final outcome, there were a few honorable mentions with recently called-up running back Bo Scarbrough putting up 55 yards and a score in his NFL debut, and J.D. McKissic making several plays to help the Lions move the chains, in what really turned out to be a high volume game in terms of scoring.

Driskel was under pressure all game and got sacked three times, however, he had no turnovers. Driskel showed poise while being under fire from the Cowboys defensive line and put together another nice day on the ground with 51 yards on eight rushes — including a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter (video below).

In the air, Driskel completed 15 of 26 passing attempts for 209 yards and two more touchdowns, giving him three touchdowns in total for the game. He connected with Kenny Golladay late in the fourth quarter on a deep 39 yard completion.

Congratulations to Driskel on earning the player of the game in only his second start for the Lions!

Studs and duds from the Lions’ 35-27 loss to the Cowboys

Who played well and who did not in the Lions’ loss to the Cowboys

“Well, at least they made a game out of it” is quickly becoming the title of the 2019 Lions season.

The Lions played basically the same exact game they have nine other times this season and the outcome was the same as it has been six of the last seven; another loss. This slide has taken its toll on everyone, and it’s a big bag of yuck right now. Fans – justifiably, aren’t interested in watching the same thing week by week, and it’s already time to start looking towards the NFL draft, something fans of this team know all too well.

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Here are the studs and dud of the loss.

Stud: Bo Scarbrough

At this point in the season, with the Lions season slipping away week by week, all you can do is look for small victories or reasons to smile. Bo Scarbrough getting his first work in the NFL and scoring on his 3rd touch was the highlight of the loss.

Scarbrough has had horrific luck with injuries throughout his life dating back to his high school days, which was the main reason he was available to sign with the Lions deep into the season. He finished with 12 rushes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Had the Lions not been playing from behind so much, could have had much more.

Dud: Justin Coleman

Coleman – like the rest of the defense – has hit a wall the past few weeks. Whether it was Randall Cobb, Michael Gallup or Tony Pollard out of the backfield, Coleman couldn’t handle it. He fell down on one long pass and was turned around on the very next play. When he was creating turnovers early on in the season, it was easier to forgive his mistakes in coverage. Now that he’s not creating those, it’s becoming tougher to justify his price tag.

Stud: Jeff Driskel

If this Lions defense – high priced and highly drafted across the board – could stop anyone, we would be talking more about how good Jeff Driskel has looked in relief of Matthew Stafford these past few weeks.

Driskel’s numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he’s taken care of the football and led some solid drives over the past two starts. His pocket presence leaves a lot to be desired, much like every backup quarterback in the league, but his mobility and football IQ has been on display. He finished with 260 total yards and two touchdowns with zero turnovers. It’s another solid performance from the backup. He’s not been the reason behind the two losses.

Dud: Matt Patricia

While shockingly the Lions stopped the run better than anyone could’ve expected, the rest of the gameplan on defense was in shambles…as it has been since Week 4. And there’s no one else to blame higher than Patricia. This is his defense. He and Bob Quinn built it. And it’s bad.

You can blame injuries, but they’ve been just about league average overall. You can blame Paul Pasqualoni, but it’s clear he’s just the guy taking orders from the head coach. After the opening drive-forced fumble and subsequent three-and-out, the Cowboys drives look like this: field goal, touchdown, punt, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, punt. They *averaged* 61 yards per drive. Dak Prescott threw for 444 yards.

This is on the head coach. And it’s getting worse by the week.

Stud: Darius Slay

People are going to remember his two near interceptions and point to this as a rare letdown from Slay, but he had three PBU’s and, if not for a great play by Tavon Austin, could’ve had his second interception of the year. He and Trey Flowers are the only two players on defense that are having a good year.

Dud: Home “support”

First off, I don’t blame anyone for not showing up to Lions games anymore. I’ve been as critical of this team and coaching staff as anyone, and if fans don’t want to spend their hard-earned money watching this team give up back-breaking drives at an alarming clip or see countless penalties and moronic lapses in judgment every other play then I don’t blame them. Go see a movie with your family, shovel your driveway, read a book or enjoy a great album. Frankly, it’s outrageous that many fans came out today anyway. They don’t deserve the support.

But, it doesn’t change the fact that this basically wasn’t a home game for the players. There were more “let’s go Cowboys” chants than I’d like to admit and every touchdown the Cowboys scored just made them louder.

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Again, I don’t blame the fans one iota. It’s on the players and coaching staff to win games so that people want to watch their team. And the Lions aren’t fun to watch anymore. They were earlier in the season, sure! But week by week, the same problems arise and nothing is being fixed. I don’t know where the team goes from here, but something needs to change.

Report: Matthew Stafford has a six-week back injury, could return sooner

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford’s “fractured bones are a six-week injury.”

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford’s “fractured bones are a six-week injury.”

It was already noted that Stafford would not suit up for the Lions game against the Dallas Cowboys and while the classification sounds severe, it does not mean that Stafford will sit out the full six weeks. It could be just a matter of pain management.

“But Detroit also knows that this type of injury would sideline most players six weeks,” Schefter said, “if not longer. It is another testament to Stafford’s toughness; he had started 136 straight games before last week’s absence, the sixth-longest streak for a quarterback in NFL history.”

It’s possible, the Lions franchise quarterback could be back as early as Thanksgiving Day’s showdown against their NFC North division rival, Chicago Bears, depending on his progress.

Jeff Driskel will get his second start under center, and it does pose an interesting narrative as the Lions were in attendance for the Colin Kaepernick workout. Should the organization choose to shut Stafford down for the rest of the season and not jeopardize further injury, perhaps that is why the team sent representatives?

Update: the NFL Network offered this update from a doctor, noting the injury is in the thoracic region of the back. That’s the first we’ve heard any confirmation of the location of the injury within the back:

Bears might face Lions backup QB Jeff Driskel again in Week 13

Lions QB Matthew Stafford could be out as long as 6 weeks, which means the Bears might be facing QB Jeff Driskel again on Thanksgiving.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford missed last week’s game against the Chicago Bears with fractured bones in his back.

Stafford’s back injury might be worse than originally thought, as ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that Stafford could be out for as long as six weeks.

Stafford will miss his second straight game against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Lions are still unsure of how much time he could miss.

Last week, a source told ESPN that Stafford “could miss one week, he could miss three weeks.”

But Detroit also knows that this type of injury would sideline most players six weeks, if not longer. It is another testament to Stafford’s toughness; he had started 136 straight games before last week’s absence, the sixth-longest streak for a quarterback in NFL history.

That means the Bears might likely face backup QB Jeff Driskel again when they play the Lions in Week 13.

The Bears’ defense struggled against Driskel, who at times marched the Lions’ offense down the field. Driskel completed 27-of-46 passes for 269 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

But it sounds like Chicago will get a second chance to contain the backup quarterback on Thanksgiving in Detroit.

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Lions Week 11 comprehensive depth chart

A comprehensive look at the Detroit Lions depth chart as they face-off against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11.

In this comprehensive look at the Detroit Lions roster, we will be examining not only the positional depth chart but also looking at who coaches will turn to in specific situations, including who will step up in case of injury.

Here’s a look at how the Lions roster sets up for their Week 11 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Note — you will see some players listed more than once as they have multiple roles.

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford (9) — Ruled OUT
Jeff Driskel (2) — Will get his second start as a Lion
David Blough (10)

Running back

Ty Johnson (31) — Removed from the injury report
J.D. McKissic (41)
Bo Scarbrough (43) — Promoted to the active roster
Nick Bawden (46) — Fullback

Third down back

J.D. McKissic (41) — Change of pace
Jamal Agnew (39) — Gadget option

Wide receiver

Kenny Golladay (19)
Marvin Jones Jr. (11)
Danny Amendola (80) — Not listed with an injury designation
Marvin Hall (17)

Slot receiver

Danny Amendola (80) 
T.J. Hockenson (88)

Tight end

T.J. Hockenson (88)
Jesse James (83)
Logan Thomas (82)

Starting offensive line with Rick Wagner OUT

Taylor Decker (68) — LT
Joe Dahl (66) — LG
Frank Ragnow (77) — C 
Graham Glasgow (60) — RG
Tyrell Crosby (65) — RT

Rick Wagner (71) — RT — Ruled OUT

Reserve offensive line

Tyrell Crosby (65) — LT, RT
Kenny Wiggins (79) — LG, RG, RT
Graham Glasgow (60) — C
Oday Aboushi (76) — RG, LG
Beau Benzschawel (63) — Emergency IOL

Interior defensive line

Damon Harrison (98) — NT — Questionable, expected to play
A’Shawn Robinson (91) — 3T — Not listed with an injury designation
Da’Shawn Hand (93) — DDE, 3T, NT — Ruled OUT
Mike Daniels (96) — 3T — Not listed with an injury designation
John Atkins (99) — NT — Not listed with an injury designation

Defensive end

Trey Flowers (90) — DDE, 3T
Romeo Okwara (95) — DDE, JACK, 3T — Questionable

Pass rushing linebacker

Devon Kennard (42) — JACK
Christian Jones (52) — SAM, JACK

Off-the-ball linebacker

Jarrad David (40) — MIKE
Christian Jones (52) — WILL, MIKE
Jahlani Tavai (51) — MIKE, WILL
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) — MIKE, WILL
Miles Killebrew (35) — WILL, Hang Safety — Not listed with an injury designation
Steve Longa (54) — MIKE, WILL

Cornerback

Darius Slay (23) — Not listed with an injury designation
Justin Coleman (27)
Rashaan Melvin (29)
Mike Ford (38)
Jamal Agnew (39)
Amani Oruwariye (24)
Dee Virgin (30) — special teams only
Michael Jackson (28)

Slot cornerback

Justin Coleman (27)
Jamal Agnew (39)

Safety

Tracy Walker (21) — Questionable
Will Harris (25) — Not listed with an injury designation
Tavon Wilson (32)
C.J. Moore (49)

Third-safety

C.J. Moore (49)
Miles Killebrew (35) — WILL, Hang Safety

Kicking team

Matt Prater (5) — placekicker
Sam Martin (6) — punter, kickoffs, holder — Questionable
Don Muhlbach (48) — long snapper

Kick returns

Jamal Agnew (39) — punt and kick returner
Danny Amendola (80) — reserve punt returner
J.D. McKissic (41) — reserve kick returner

Kick coverage

C.J. Moore (49) — gunner
Dee Virgin (30) — gunner
Mike Ford (38) — reserve gunner
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) — five-phase specialist
Steve Longa (54) — five-phase specialist

Teams final injury reports

Lions’ injury designations — Matthew Stafford, Da’Shawn Hand, and Rick Wagner ruled OUT

Lions’ injury update: Ty Johnson removed from injury report after clearing the league’s concussion protocol

Cowboys’ injury designations — LG Connor Williams ruled OUT

Lions Wire game prep articles/media

The Honolulu Blueprint: Keys to a Lions victory over the Cowboys

Listen: Erik Schlitt on The Detroit Lions Breakdown Podcast: Episode 128

Lions promote RB Bo Scarbrough to the active roster

The Honolulu Blueprint: Keys to a Lions victory over the Cowboys in Week 11

The Honolulu Blueprint: Identifying several key strategies the Lions will need to do, in order to be victorious over the Cowboys in Week 11.

If the Detroit Lions (3-5-1) want to shock the world and come away with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys (5-4) in Week 11, they’ll need to follow this week’s Honolulu Blueprint and execute several key strategies.

Let’s take a look at the key components the Lions need to take advantage of in Week 11.

Lean on Jeff Driskel’s strengths

By this point, we all know Matthew Stafford has been ruled out and the Lions will be starting Jeff Driskel for the second consecutive week. Last week, Driskel wasn’t notified he would get the ball until the morning of the game, but this week it’s been clear from Monday, Driskel would start again.

The extra time should afford the Lions the opportunity to prepare a game plan suited to Driskel’s strengths, which are listed below per Lions Wire’s own Jeff Risdon’s evaluation:

  • Very athletic and creative outside the pocket
  • Above-average arm strength and zip on deeper throws
  • Mechanics don’t break down on the move
  • Improved his footwork and developed a more consistent release point that really helped his accuracy
  • Enthusiastic presence on the sideline and in the huddle

The Lions opened last week’s game with a read-option and Driskel gave the ball to J.D. McKissic for a 10-yard run. As the game progressed, Driskel would keep the ball on five runs, amassing a team-leading 37-yards (one more than McKissic). Expect the Lions to continue relying on Driskel’s 4.56 speed to move the ball on the ground.

They also need to test the Cowboys deep, like they did in the clip below, which encompasses all five of Risdon’s positive attributes into one play:

This play was one of only three deep shots (passes over 20 yards) taken by Driskel on the afternoon — and the only one he connected on — but there is enough potential there for the Lions to increase the frequency of plays like this.

Keep hitting the safety valves

When a young quarterback is in trouble he often relies on tight ends and running backs to alleviate pressure. Last week, Driskel leaned on his running backs early and tight ends late, totaling 19 targets, with 14 of them being completed for a collective 100-yards.

Similarly, last week, the Cowboys allowed the Vikings tight ends and running backs to complete 17 of 20 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns, and a 2-pt conversion.

While the Lions should test the Cowboys secondary with the deep ball, players like McKissic and T.J. Hockenson need to step up and provide Driskel with reliable and consistent options in the passing game.

Time of possession/Fast start

The Dallas Cowboys offense is potent, checking in as Football Outsider’s top DVOA offense, earning the No. 2 rushing and No. 3 passing spots on offense. There’s no doubt the Lions defense will be challenged but the Lions offense can help in two major ways: time of possession and scoring early.

In the Cowboys’ four losses, they lost the time of possession in three of them, and in all four games, they trailed heading into the locker room at halftime:

  • Saints held the ball for 36:04 and led 9-3 at the half
  • Packers 36:43 and led 17-0 at the half
  • Jets only had the ball for 27:57 but got out to a 21-6 at the half
  • Vikings 33:27, ahead 14-0 after 1st quarter and 17-14 at the half

Bottom line: keep the Cowboys’ offense on the sidelines.

Focus on Ezekiel Elliot 1st, Dak Prescott 2nd

Elliot is one of the best running backs in the league and while the Lions have historically had trouble containing him, that shouldn’t deter the Lions from focusing on slowing him down first.

While the Cowboys rushing attack is aggressive and efficient, they failed to break 50 yards rushing in two of their losses (Saints and Vikings), averaging 2.3 yards per attempt in both games.

The Lions run defense has struggled all season, but in two of their last three games, they did not allow a rushing touchdown and held their opponent to 80 (Giants) and 81 yards (Bears) on the ground — with 3.3 and 3.4 yards per attempt average respectively.

If the Lions can build on their recent success, it’ll go a long way to helping them earn a win.

Attack the weakness on the OL

The Cowboys offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and features three first-round picks (Tyron Smith Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick), one of the highest-paid right tackle in the league (La’el Collins, who should’ve been a first-round pick if not for a timely investigation) and a third-round pick in Connor Williams.

Williams, the Cowboys starting left guard, currently has a knee injury and will miss this game. He will be replaced by Xavier Su’a-Filo, and according to Pro Football Focus, it’s a major downgrade — Su’a-Filo has a PFF grade 24.2 points lower than Williams.

Expect the Lions to attack Su’a-Filo with a variety of combinations. Look for the Lions to initially deploy Damon Harrison over him, and when Su’a-Filo gets used to the power, they will shift Trey Flowers inside to try and expose him with athleticism. Additionally, look for Jarrad Davis to attack Su’a-Filo’s A-gap responsibility to keep him guessing.

Be opportunistic

There are only two teams in the NFL who have the same numbers turnovers as takeaways — the Lions and Cowboys both have 12 of each.

Whoever wins this battle will have a big advantage. Look no further than the results from these teams last three games:

  • Lions lost to Bears – lost turnover battle 1-0
  • Lions lost to Raiders – lost turnover battle 2-0
  • Lions beat Giants – won the turnover battle 1-0
  • Cowboys lost to Vikings, lost turnover battle 1-0
  • Cowboys beat Giants, won the turnover battle 3-2
  • Cowboys beat Eagles, won the turnover battle 4-1

It’s not definitive, but win the turnover battle and you have a decisive advantage towards winning the game.

Prescott’s advancement echoed by top spot in several advanced stats

The Cowboys have a path to the playoffs, but first they will need a victory against a Stafford-less Lions team. Is victory a sure thing?

It has been a polarizing season for the Dallas Cowboys, who enter Week 11 with a record of 5-4. At this point a record like that would seem disappointing, and it should be. The team has been a model of inconsistency and that includes the coaching staff. In one game they look like the best offense in the NFC, but in another they are trailing the New York Jets 21-6 at half-time. However, despite what the record suggests the Cowboys are in first place in their division as they are currently 4-0 against division rivals.

The reality of a 5-4 record does not match Super Bowl expectations, but there is still optimism for the team to make a strong playoff push. Hope springs from the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Dak Prescott, who has helped transform the team’s identity with his passing efficiency. Prescott and the team’s passing attack has been among the best in the league and this is how they rank in the 2019 season with some key metrics:

  • No. 1 in EPA per pass attempt (0.32), per nflscrapR
  • No. 1 in Success Rate per pass attempt (56%), per nflscrapR
  • No. 1 in Football Outsiders’ Offensive DVOA (29.6%)
  • No. 1 in yards per pass attempt (8.7)
  • No. 1 in yards per play (6.7)

Prescott gets slighted for being on a team that is one win above .500, but he has maintained his elevated level of play throughout the entirety of the season. Here is a chart that demonstrates Prescott’s effectiveness using Expected Points Added per play (EPA/play). EPA measures the value of a given play using down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

This graph illustrates how Prescott has been far and away the most crucial component in the Cowboys’ offense. His worst game of the season in terms of EPA/play came against the New York Giants in Week 9. Even then his performance was still comparable to the league average.

This chart also accounts for non-QB EPA/play. The differences are drastic, but it stresses just how good Prescott’s season has been.

The Stafford-less Lions

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

In their upcoming Week 11 matchup against the Cowboys the Detroit Lions will be without their starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. He is unlikely to play after suffering a back injury against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9. His injury has been diagnosed as fractured bones in his back per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

In his place backup-quarterback Jeff Driskel will get the starting nod for the second game in a row. In his first start with the Lions, Driskel was 27-of-46 passing against the Chicago Bears for 269 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a losing effort. He also added 37 yards on five carries.

Overall, his performance was all one could ask of a backup, and Driskel is experienced in this regard. In a similar situation in 2018 he was tasked with filling in for an injured Andy Dalton for the Cincinnati Bengals over a five-game stretch.

Playoff Projections

Week 11 is shaping up to be a meaningful week for the Cowboys. Their odds of winning the division will get a big boost with a win against the Lions and and a Philadelphia Eagles loss against the New England Patriots. According to FiveThirtyEights’ 2019 NFL Predictions a Cowboys win and an Eagles loss on Sunday gives the Cowboys a 60% chance to win the division. However, a Cowboys loss and an Eagles win would drop the team’s playoff odds to a mere 16%.

In preparation for Week 11, Driskel called his upcoming start against the Cowboys, “business as normal”. For the Cowboys this will not be a game to take lightly. The Lions are facing a string of injuries on both sides of the field, one player that is in jeopardy of missing Sunday’s matchup for the Lions is cornerback Darius Slay. Slay has arguably been his team’s best player in the defensive backfield and if he is unable to play then the Cowboys’ passing attack will be heavily favored.

All signs point to the Cowboys coming away with a victory on Sunday, but victory for the team has hardly been a sure thing. If the Cowboys want to prove they are contenders, they will need to produce a convincing win against a weakened Lions team. As the dust settles, a win here would be step one for the team as they get ready for a final playoff push down the stretch.

Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast, episode 128: Cowboys Week 11 preview

Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast, episode 128: Cowboys Week 11 preview, is now available to download and listen.

This week on the Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast the guys discuss the Matthew Stafford injury, last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears, if the season is lost or salvageable, review the latest news from Allen Park and preview the Lions Week 11 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The DLB podcast is a weekly conversation with Lions Wire’s own Erik Schlitt and his co-host Joe Kania. This week they discuss:

You can follow the Detroit Lions Breakdown Podcast (@LionsBreakdown) and it’s hosts Schlitt (@Erikschlitt) and Kania (@JoeKania_DLB) on Twitter, with a Facebook page on the way.

The podcast is available to listen at the DetroitLionsBreakdown.com website and is available to download and subscribe to on multiple podcast platforms, including Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, among others.

NFL announces Lions at Broncos will be on Sunday December 22nd

When the Detroit Lions 2019 regular season schedule was announced there was once curious date omitted: their Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos was scheduled as to be determined. Today, we know that matchup will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, 2019.

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When the Detroit Lions 2019 regular season schedule was announced there was once curious date omitted: their Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos was scheduled as to be determined.

Today, we know that matchup will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, 2019 at 4:05 PM, EST on CBS.

With the Lions record sitting at 3-5-1 and the Broncos at 3-6, it’s no surprise that the NFL elected to keep the game on the regular Sunday schedule rather than flex it to the national stage on Saturday.

Further adding to the list of reasons this game is not being flexed, is the starting quarterback situation of both teams — as a Jeff Driskel vs Brandon Allen (maybe Drew Lock) matchup isn’t made for primetime.

The Broncos have placed their starter Joe Flacco on injured reserve, while second-round pick (42nd overall) Lock is ready to start practicing again and may return from injured reserve in the next few weeks. Currently, the Broncos are starting Allen (undrafted free agent in 2016 out of Arkansas) at quarterback.

Meanwhile, the Lions are in the middle of deciding what to do with Matthew Stafford after it was discovered that he has a fractured bone in his back. Stafford’s injury isn’t expected to be longterm, just painful, but with his history of back injuries and the team all but eliminated from the NFL Playoffs, it’s fair to speculate if they will shut him down for the season.