ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is probably going to pass an NFL legend in all-time passing yards Thursday night -- and he’s going to do it against that legend's former team.
Stafford is 60 yards away from Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Bart Starr on the league’s passing list, and, barring something unforeseen, he should move past him sometime in the first half. Stafford enters the game against the Packers with 24,658 yards.
Starr, No. 70 on the all-time passing list, is at 24,718 yards.
The 27-year-old Stafford has passed notable names on a weekly basis this season. Besides the potential of passing Starr, Stafford has recently passed Norm Van Brocklin, Otto Graham and Roger Staubach.
Stafford could also pass former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer (24,777 yards) on Thursday. He likely won’t reach No. 68 -- another Hall of Famer, Bob Griese (25,092) -- on Thursday night, but that is on the horizon this season as well.
Stafford is the only active quarterback in the NFL under 30 in the top 100 in all-time passing yards.
He is also No. 60 all-time in completions with 2,114 -- just behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (2,127). With a big game Thursday, Stafford could pass Hall of Famer Len Dawson (2,136) for No. 58 in all-time completions.
Stafford could also pass Starr in career touchdowns. Stafford is No. 82 all-time in touchdown passes (151) and is one behind Starr and Billy Kilmer, who threw for 152. Staubach is at No. 79 with 153. Brian Sipe and Jeff George are tied for 77th at 154 and Danny White is No. 76 at 155.
Stafford’s main target during his career, Calvin Johnson, could also make some noise Thursday by securing his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season with 79 yards against the Packers. He has 921 yards this season.
If he reaches that mark, Johnson will also make more moves up the all-time receiving yards list. Johnson has 11,326 receiving yards and is No. 30 all-time. Next up for him are Keenan McCardell (11,373), Rod Smith (11,389) and Muhsin Muhammad (11,438).
Johnson is also No. 24 all-time in receiving touchdowns with 80. He’s one away from Art Powell (81) and two away from Reggie Wayne (82).
