Matthew Stafford: Why Win at Dallas Was a Career-Defining Moment

Every player has certain moments that define who they are, and for Matthew Stafford one of those moments came against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Lions trailed 27-3 in the third quarter before the tide began to turn.

Tony Romo regressed into the quarterback that so many have accused him of being. He fell apart late in the football game, throwing three interceptions.

Stafford chose to rise to the occasion. By all accounts he had a pedestrian first half, losing an early interception to Gerald Sensabaugh and throwing zero touchdown passes.

In the second half things changed. Momentum found its way to the Detroit sideline. Bobby Carpenter's interception for a touchdown energized the Lions, and Chris Houston followed it up with a score of his own.

When the fourth quarter began the Lions trailed 30-17, and it was time for Stafford to prove himself yet again.

I say yet again because he had done so before, but not in a game of such consequence. His rookie year 2009, Stafford threw for 422 yards and five touchdowns in a victory against the Cleveland Browns.

The memory of him throwing a touchdown pass with a separated shoulder is still etched in many Lions fans' memories. It showcased Stafford's resolve and determination early in his career.

On this day he attempted to forge a new milestone into the minds of Detroiters by helping the Lions overcome a 24-point deficit in his home state of Texas.

With his boyhood friend Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his family looking on, Stafford did not disappoint.

In the fourth quarter Stafford passed for 108 yards and threw two touchdowns to Calvin Johnson.

The first was a miraculous triple coverage catch that only Megatron could make. The second came on the goal line with the outcome of the game hanging in the balance. Stafford calmly threw a back corner fade to Johnson to secure the victory.

It was the type of calm that Detroit needs out of their quarterback and captain. It was the type of moment that defines a career.