Matthew Stafford is set to return to the lineup for the Detroit Lions this week. He may want to avoid throwing at DeAngelo Hall, who is coming off a record-setting performance.
Stafford will be under center for the first time since Week 1 on Sunday as the Lions host the ball-hawking Hall and the Washington Redskins, who can surpass their 2009 win total with a victory.
Detroit (1-5) has been much more competitive this season than its record indicates (four losses by a combined 18 points) even though the Lions haven’t had Stafford, the top overall pick of the 2009 draft, for most of the season.
The second-year franchise quarterback has been out since suffering a shoulder injury on opening day against the Chicago Bears.
Stafford has thrown 20 interceptions in 11 career games, but has yet to throw one this season.
He will try to avoid a similar fate suffered by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who was picked off an NFL record-tying four times by Hall last week. The highlight of the bunch was a one-handed catch near the sideline that Hall returned 92 yards for a touchdown in the Redskins’ 17-14 win.
Hall’s historic effort was shocking, considering he entered the game allowing a league-high 42 completions.
Nearly as surprising was the impact disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s had on the outcome. In his first game back since the death of his half-brother, Haynesworth had a sack and forced a key fumble at the Redskins’ 1-yard line.
Haynesworth and the Redskins’ defense, which is 31st in the league (406 ypg), will be tested by Stafford and a well-rested Lions offense.
Running back Jahvid Best (turf toe) should be ready to resume his push for Offensive Rookie of the Year following the bye week. Best has totaled 534 yards and five touchdowns – tops among all rookies.
In addition, Calvin Johnson (shoulder) and Nate Burleson (ankle) should also be at full strength.
Johnson is coming off his best game of the season, a five-catch, 146-yard effort in a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants. He will likely spend most of the day trying to break free from Hall.
Washington, meanwhile, has won three of its last four games and is looking to move to within a half-game of the NFC East-leading New York Giants.
The Redskins (4-3) hope to get another huge game out of Ryan Torain, who is filling in for the injured Clinton Portis. Torain ran for 125 yards on 21 carries in a 27-24 loss to Indianapolis last week. He has 335 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games.
Torain could be in for a big day against Detroit, which has allowed a 100-yard rusher in four of the last five games and is 27th in the league against the run.
The Lions won the last meeting 19-14 behind Stafford, who threw for 241 yards and a touchdown for his first career win last Sept. 27.