National Football League

Matthew Stafford made sure the Lions would set a record for fourth-quarter comebacks

Published Dec. 14, 2016 8:38 a.m. ET

Dan Graf

It seemed unlikely the Detroit Lions would need another fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Ford Field, but quarterback Matt Stafford created the need for one and then solved that problem within several minutes.

Detroit entered the game with seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season, needing one more to establish an NFL record, but the Lions had won seven of eight games and the Bears were 3-9. Detroit seemed safe when it had the ball and a 13-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Stafford threw an interception to Cre’Von LeBlanc that was returned 24 yards for a touchdown with 7:07 left in the game.

Of course, that only set up Stafford and the Lions for the record. They drove 76 yards in eight plays, capped by Stafford’s 7-yard run with 3:17 left.

The Lions won 20-17, serving up further proof that you can’t count Stafford out of the league MVP discussion any more than you can count him and his team out of any game.