Minnesota Vikings: What Matthew Stafford’s activation means for Week 9

What does Stafford being activated for Week 9 mean for the Minnesota Vikings?

Going into the Week 9 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions on Sunday, there were questions surrounding who would actually take the field under center for Detroit.

Earlier this week, Lions veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was placed on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list after coming in close contact with someone who had contracted COVID-19.

That didn’t mean that Stafford necessarily had the virus or tested positive himself, but that he had just come in close contact with someone who did. As a result, if Stafford were to post multiple negative tests leading up to Week 9 of the regular season in Minnesota, he could potentially still take the field against the Vikings in an NFC North contest.

On Saturday, we learned the answer to that question when it was announced that Stafford was activated off the Reserve/COVID-19 list, clearing the way for him returning to the field this weekend at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis while likely resuming starting quarterback duties against Minnesota.

Stafford’s return obviously changes things for the Vikings defense who was preparing to possibly face off against Lions back up quarterbacks Chase Daniel or David Blough if Stafford wasn’t able to play on Sunday afternoon.

How exactly does Stafford’s return impact Minnesota’s defensive unit that has struggled so far this season? It could quite a bit.

The Minnesota Vikings have a tougher matchup with Stafford on the field.

So far this season, the Vikings passing game and defense as a whole have been a weak spot on a team that has traditionally had a relatively solid defensive unit year-in and year-out since Mike Zimmer took over as head coach.

Through seven games, the Vikings defense has allowed opposing offenses to score an average of 30.6 points per contest, which is the fourth-most among NFL teams heading into Week 9 of the regular season.

When it comes to yards through the air in the passing game specifically, Minnesota has given up a total of 2,011 passing yards, which ranks seventh-most in the league. On average, the Vikings are giving up 287.3 yards through the air in 2020 (third-most in the NFL).

Stafford, on the other hand, certainly has the ability to air things out in the passing game early and often while leading the Detroit offense. So far this season, the Pro Bowl veteran quarterback has tallied 1,916 passing yards while completing 61.4 percent of his 246 pass attempts, also throwing for 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. That will be a key piece to have for the Lions as they try and revenge a loss in Week 8.

Another aspect that is concerning on the side of the Vikings is that they will already be without three cornerbacks in an already-thin group at the back end of the Minnesota defense.

Cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler (concussion), Holton Hill (foot) and Mark Fields (chest) are already out for the game, while Harrison Hand (hamstring/back) is listed as questionable and could be a game-time decision on Sunday.

For a young group that has experienced struggles already through the first half of the regular season, the Vikings will have their work cut out for them once again this weekend with Stafford returning to the lineup for the Lions in Week 9 during an NFC North battle on Sunday afternoon.