What an amazing way to win a football game for the Lions.  They were trailing the game 37-31 with 5 seconds left in the game when rookie QB Matt Stafford threw an apparent game ending interception.  But, Browns’ CB Hank Poteat was called for pass interference in the end zone.  On the untimed last play of the game, Stafford threw a 1-yard TD pass to fellow rookie (TE) Brandon Pettigrew to tie the game.  Jason Hanson then came out and put the extra point through the uprights making the Lions a winner.

QB Matt Stafford reminded me a lot of John Elway today because of his arm strength.  He completed 26 of 43 passes for 422 yards with 5 TD passes and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) today.  Stafford set a all-time NFL record for the most TD passes in a game by a rookie QB.  Kevin Smith didn’t run the ball well carrying it 12 times for 45 yards (3.8 ypc) but he was awesome in the passing game catching 4 passes for 104 yards (26.0 avg) with a TD.  Calvin Johnson looked banged up but he still played very well catching 7 passes for 161 yards (23.0 avg) with a TD grab.  Brandon Pettigrew also had a outstanding game for the Lions with 6 catches for 72 yards (12.0 avg) with the game winning TD grab.  Rookie RB Aaron Brown (1 rec, 26 yards) and TE Will Heller (2 rec, 12 yards) each caught 1 TD pass apiece in the game today.  The Lions finished up with 473 total yards on offense (57 rushing, 416 passing) in this game today despite only having possession of the ball for 25:14.

As good as the offense was the defense played more than bad enough to lose this game.  LB Larry Foote was all over the place for the Lions in this game with 12 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit.  Safety Louis Delmas pitched in with 8 tackles.  The Browns rolled up 439 total yards of offense in this game (131 rushing, 308 passing) today.  The Lions are now 2-8 on the season after this edge of your seat victory.