QB Matthew Stafford connected with WR Titus Young on a 1-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-1 with 20 seconds left to play that resulted in the game-winning touchdown pass against Seattle. It gave the Lions a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks. The pass was Stafford’s fourth career game-winning touchdown pass, and second this season, in the game’s final minute.
He is the only quarterback in the NFL since the 1970 merger to throw four-game winning touchdown passes with less than one minute to play in his first 36 career starts (courtesy Elias Sports Bureau).
Stafford holds the franchise record with four game-winning touchdown passes in the final minute of the game. His game-winning TD pass vs. St. Louis (9/9) earlier this year broke Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne’s previous team record of two.
Overall, Stafford now has nine career fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning drives (36 career starts), including three this season. Since the beginning of 2011, he has led the team to comeback wins seven times in the fourth quarter or overtime.
THREE-AND-ONE
In yesterday's 28-24 win over the Seahawks, Stafford connected on three touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 20 seconds left to play, and also rushed for a fourth quarter 1-yard touchdown run. It was the seventh time since 1960 that a Lions quarterback threw at least three touchdown passes and rushed for at least one touchdown. The last to accomplish this feat was QB Scott Mitchell (3 passing TDs; 1 rushing TD) vs. Atlanta October 6, 1996.
Stafford joins Mitchell (twice), Eric Hipple, Bill Munson and Milt Plum (twice) as the only Lions players to register 3+ passing touchdowns and 1+ rushing touchdowns in a game since 1960.
300-YARD GAMES
Stafford threw for 352 yards in today’s win, his 13th career 300-yard game. He has thrown for 300 yards in 13 of his 36 career starts. The Lions are now 9-4 when he throws for 300 yards. Stafford now has four 300-yard games in 2012.
His 352-yard outing yesterday was his eighth career game passing for 350 yards.
THREE PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
With three touchdown passes yesterday, Stafford joined Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne as the only passers in Lions history to throw 3+ touchdowns in 10 career games. Stafford now has 10 career games with 3+ touchdown passes and Layne holds the franchise record with 12.
COMPLETING THE TASK
Stafford completed 34-of-49 pass attempts Sunday (69.4 pct). His 34 completions are the second-highest single-game tally of his career and the most in a win.
The game was the ninth time in his career that he has completed 30 passes in a game.
His 34 pass completions tie for the third-highest single-game tally in Lions history.
100-PASSER RATING
With a passer rating of 101.7 in today’s game, Stafford registered a 100+ passer rating for the 13th time in his career (36 starts). The Lions are now 11-2 when he records a passer rating of 100+ in a game.
MEGATRON MOVES UP
With 46 receiving yards today vs. Seattle, WR Calvin Johnson passed WR Johnnie Morton (6,499, 1994-2001) for the second-most receiving yards in Lions history. Johnson now has 6,510 career receiving yards in 83 career games. WR Herman Moore owns the all-time franchise record with 9,174 (1991-2001).
YOUNG’S BIG DAY
WR Titus Young caught a game-winning touchdown pass with 20 seconds left to help the Lions claim a 28-24 win over Seattle. The 1-yard touchdown reception was his second of the game (also has 46-yard TD catch). It was the second time in his two-year career he has caught two touchdown passes in a game.
Young caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to close the Lions deficit to 17-14 with 8:49 left in the second quarter. The 46-yard tied Young’s longest reception of the season and the third longest of his career.
Young finished with nine catches for 100 yards, both career single-game highs.
THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY
The Lions completed 12-of-16 third down attempts in Sunday's game for an efficiency rate of 75-percent. It was the Lions highest third-down completion rate in games with 10+ attempts since the Lions converted 10-of-12 third downs (83.3 pct) November 28, 1996 vs. Kansas City.
The 12 third-down conversions are the most by the Lions in a game since at least 1991.
BROYLES BRINGS IT IN
Rookie WR Ryan Broyles scored his second career touchdown with a 6-yard reception at the end of the first quarter. It capped off a Lions 9-play, 82-yard drive.
He has now caught touchdown passes in consecutive games.
Broyles finished the game with 3 catches for 37 yards.
HANSON’S CAREER PATs
K Jason Hanson connected on four PATs in yesterday's 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, and he moved up two spots on the NFL’s all-time career PAT list. With his four today, Hanson now has 642 career extra points. He passed both K Norm Johnson (638) and Hall of Fame T/K Lou Groza (641) and is now fifth all-time in NFL history.
SILVA’S FIRST PICK AND RECOVERY
With the Lions trailing 17-14 in the third quarter, S Ricardo Silva came up with a huge play as he stopped Seattle’s offensive drive when he recorded his first career interception off a Seahawks deep pass. He picked the pass off at the Lions 18-yard line and returned it 26 yards to the Lions 44-yard line.
The interception led to the Lions early fourth quarter touchdown that gave the Lions a 21-17 lead with 11:35 to play.
He also recovered the fumble on the game’s final play, giving him two total takeways in the game. It was Silva’s first career fumble recovery.
Silva finished the game with four tackles (three solo).
NEGATIVE PLAYS ON DEFENSE
The Detroit Lions continue to force negative plays on the opponent’s offense, despite registering zero sacks in the game. The Lions registered seven total tackles for loss that included six on rushing plays and one on a pass play. DT Ndamukong Suh and DT Corey Williams led the team with two tackles for loss each.
As a team, the Lions defense recorded six tackles for loss on rushing plays for a total loss of 13 yards.
