The Detroit Lions made the uncommon selection of a tight end with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They gave Matthew Stafford another weapon: TJ Hockenson. In his NFL debut, the rookie tight end made an impact with six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. He will need to perform like this once against if the Lions want to defeat the Dallas Cowboys.
To make this game more difficult, Stafford has been ruled out. Jeff Driskel will make his second straight start and this means that the Lions need as many players to step up as possible. It begins with TJ Hockenson, who was injured earlier this year.
Hockenson vs. Cowboys
The Cowboys defense has been strong this season. They are allowing 219.8 yards per game which is seventh in the league. Despite a down year from Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas still has one of the best linebacking corps in the league with him and Jaylon Smith. Vander Esch has taken a step back this season but he is still a threat to opposing offenses. These are two young, quick linebackers who are talented in multiple ways on the football field.
If there is one area where the Cowboys have been vulnerable, it has been at tight end. They have allowed four touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season including two to Kyle Rudolph in their Sunday night loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 1, Evan Engram finished with 116 yards and a touchdown in Jerry's World. In other games, tight ends have gotten comfortable against the Cowboys' defense and whoever ends up guarding them.
The Lions rank fourth in the NFL with 291.4 passing yards per game but they have not gotten much production out of the tight end position. Also, their passing statistics will take a huge dip with Stafford on the bench. Detroit will also get no help from their rushing attack. They are averaging 76.8 yards per game on the ground over their last five games. With Kerryon Johnson on injured reserve, the Lions have lost faith in their ground game and that is a bad sign with an inexperienced quarterback.
At 6'5, TJ Hockenson is a true red zone threat. He was the top rated tight end coming out of the draft and the Lions made him a top-10 pick. It is time that he makes a big impact in a big game against a good team. Driskel will have to look for No. 88 in the red zone if they want to win this game.
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