Matthew Stafford's hand injury has deep impact on NFC playoff chase
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a dislocation and ligament damage to the middle finger of his throwing hand, impacting the middle and proximal phalanges, a source confirmed to Yahoo Sports. The Lions and Stafford will assess non-surgical options to deal with the injury for the remainder of the season, including wearing a glove or a soft splint to stabilize the finger. The source said surgery doesn’t appear to be necessary at this point.
The impact of the damage won’t be known until the Lions stabilize the injury to Stafford’s comfort and then observe his performance. The source said the injury can impact “grip and zip,” potentially altering power in throws. The finger also becomes a target for opponents and can be significantly aggravated if not protected properly.
Stafford’s throws didn’t appear to be impacted after he suffered the injury in Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears. He wore a glove to help manage the dislocation, but the source said options beyond a throwing glove will be considered before next week’s cold-weather road game against the New York Giants.
The injury certainly couldn’t come at a more pivotal time this season. With the Seattle Seahawks’ loss on Sunday, Detroit ascended to the No. 2 seed in the NFC postseason race, a slot that would give the Lions a first-round playoff bye. With an NFC that appears to be wide open, having one less game in a Super Bowl trek will be a massive advantage this season. More so than usual, because it appears every NFC team has a clear set of flaws.
In that respect, Detroit’s playoffs may be starting right now. The Green Bay Packers are two games back in the division, but are also riding a three-game winning streak and looking capable of running the table the rest of the way. The Packers also play the Minnesota Vikings and Lions in their final two games, giving Green Bay a significant hand in its fate.
Meanwhile, the Lions are facing three potential playoff teams, with the Giants and Packers tilts sandwiched around a road game at Dallas on Dec. 26. Detroit could easily go 0-3 in that stretch and miss the playoffs entirely. But it could also go 3-0 and put a hammerlock on the No. 2 seed, giving Stafford a full week of rest for his injured finger. That’s not exactly the point in the season when a team wants its quarterback to start wearing a throwing glove for the first time in five years. And especially when the last gloved performance – in 2011 – produced a three-game crash that saw Stafford throw nine interceptions.
Perhaps the only upside to the remaining games is that Stafford gets to play the remaining two in domes – on the road at AT&T Stadium against Dallas, and then at Ford Field for the home finale against the Packers. But before that, it’s looking like a brutal game in New York. Possibly one even worse than the cold, foggy affair between the Giants and Cowboys on Sunday night.
As it stands, the early weather forecast for the Lions’ game at MetLife Stadium is predicting low-40-degree temperatures, high wind and a high chance of rain. It’s the type of game where the grip on the football can be at a premium. All of which makes it vital for the Lions and Stafford to get comfortable with whatever he wears on his throwing hand next week and beyond.
Asked Sunday if the injury impacted his grip or velocity, Stafford said, “Is there a C, all of the above?”
“[I] was just trying to figure out what was the best way to manage it,” Stafford said.
He won’t be alone. Even in a season with eight fourth-quarter comeback wins, this will be the biggest hurdle the Lions have faced. The team’s unquestioned MVP has an undeniably significant injury and is headed into the teeth of the schedule in a race for the No. 2 seed.
Forget January. The playoffs begin now in Detroit.
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