Lions-Browns: Matthew Stafford, Brady Quinn Show Potential in Detroit Win

The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns have a lot in common. 

Both are struggling to win, and both have young, developing quarterbacks who labored to find consistency all season.

But on Sunday, both young quarterbacks displayed their potential.

Though Cleveland and Detroit have two of the worst defenses in the league, these quarterbacks gave their coaches exactly what they needed to see: leadership.

With eight seconds left in the game and the Lions down by six, Matthew Stafford stepped on the field and stepped up his performance. The former SEC quarterback ran around the field, dodging many Cleveland defenders, and threw the ball deep into the end zone.

The pass was intercepted.

However, Cleveland was flagged for pass interference, and the Lions took the ball at the one-yard line with no time left on the clock. Stafford had one play to redeem himself.

Stafford gets knocked on the turf, staying down with a hurt shoulder. Daunte Culpepper comes in, but Browns coach Eric Mangini calls a time out.

Matthew Stafford wants back in.

Then, with a hurt shoulder on his left arm, Stafford hiked the ball and threw a one-yard pass to a fellow rookie, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, to win the game.

Stafford finished the day 26-for-43 for 422 yards passing and five touchdowns. He came into the game with six touchdowns on the season. He showed the potential and leadership to be an NFL great one day.

But Stafford wasn't the only young quarterback to impress.

Despite the loss, Brady Quinn came up big for the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

Both of these quarterbacks have the potential to be the next superstar.

Of course, they must first play like they did today against top defenses like Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Today's game was a loss for Quinn and a win for Stafford, but, regardless of outcome, it gave each player confidence and hope for themselves, as well as their teams.