Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

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matthew stafforD
Quarterback
Georgia 4th Year
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 232
Born: 2/7/88 Highland Park, Texas
Draft: ‘09, R1 (1)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ Named 2011 aP Comeback Player of the year.
¾ Voted by fans the 2012 esPy for Best Comeback athlete.
¾ During the lions’ dramatic 38-37 last second, come-from-behind win
against Cleveland at ford field when he set an Nfl rookie passing
records for yards (422) and tied a record for touchdowns (five), stafford
was mic’d up by Nfl films for that memorable win. stafford suffered a
shoulder injury on the last timed play of regulation. following a pass
interference penalty in the endzone and a Browns timeout, stafford
forced himself back on the field for one more throw that resulted in
the game winning touchdown to Te Brandon Pettigrew. as published
in the Detroit free Press: NFL Films president Steve Sabol said
Stafford “earned a lasting place in the cinematic folklore of the
NFL.” Stafford was wired for sound when he suffered an AC
joint separation, came back and threw the winning touchdown
with no time left against the Browns. Sabol called it “the most
dramatic player wiring ever” -- and NFL Films has wired more
than 350 players since 1965.
¾ Was named NfC offensive Player of the Week and was voted rookie
of the Week for Week 11 of the 2009 season.
¾ attended Highland Park High school in Dallas, Texas, the same high
school that lions Hall of famers QB Bobby layne and rB Doak Walker
attended. layne and Walker led the lions to Nfl Championships in
1952 and 1953. layne also led the team to the 1957 Nfl Championship.
¾ While growing up in Texas, he was fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
¾ after his football career, he would like to either coach or work in broadcasting
and then one way or the other play a lot of golf.
¾ among his favorite TV shows are: Entourage and Eastbound and
Down; favorite movies: Blood Diamond and Gladiator; favorite actor/
entertainer: Will ferrell.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ Placed on reserve/injured by the lions December 24, 2010.
¾ Placed on reserve/injured by the lions December 26, 2009.
¾ Drafted by the Detroit lions in the first round (1st overall) of the
2009 Nfl Draft.
PRO
as the lions starting signal caller, stafford combines great arm strength
and accuracy with exceptional ability to read opponents defenses to lead
the team’s offense.
¾ With 24 completions at arizona (12/9), stafford past QB scott Mitchell
(1,049) for the second-most career pass completions in team history,
second place on the lions career completions list. He now has 1,053
career completions and trails QB Bobby layne (1,074) who holds the
all-time career franchise record.
¾ stafford’s 264 yards at Green Bay in Week 14 (12/9) gave him 4,006
yards through 13 games, the first time in franchise history a quarterback
has 4,000 yards through the first 13 games of the season. By reaching
4,000 passing yards this year, he became the second passer in team
history to throw for 4,000 yards in two seasons (QB Jon Kitna, 2006-07).
¾ With 27 pass completions in Week 13 vs. indianapolis (12/2), stafford
surpassed 1,000 career completions in 41 games. He became the third
passer in team history to register 1,000 pass completions (Bobby layne,
1,074; scott Mitchell, 1,049). stafford now has 1,002 career completions.
He also passed QB Joey Harrington (986) for third place on the lions
all-time career completions list.
¾ He reached 1,000 pass completions the fastest in lions’ history by
doing so in his 41st career game. layne reached 1,000 completions in
86 games and Mitchell accomplished this in 55 games.
¾ stafford has hit the 300 completions mark (now with 350 completions)
for the season and has become the second player in team history to
complete 300 passes in two seasons (Jon Kitna, 2006-07).
¾ stafford set a new lions record on Thanksgiving Day with 441 yards on
31-of-61 passing. His 441 passing yards vs. Houston on Thanksgiving
Day (11/22) ranks third-all time in lions history for single-game passing
yards and it is the second highest of his career.
¾ on the first completion of the game (25 yards to Wr ryan Broyles),
stafford surpassed 3,000 yards in the season first 11 games for the
second-consecutive year. Passing for 3,000 yards in the first 11 games
is a franchise record, and stafford is the only player in team history
to accomplish this feat.
¾ in Week 11 vs. Green Bay (11/18), stafford threw for 266 yards and increased
his career total to 10,828. stafford moved into fifth place on the
lions all-time career passing list, surpassing QB eric Hipple (10,711).
¾ stafford trails QB Gary Danielson (11,885) for fourth place on the lions
all-time career passing list
¾ With three touchdown passes in Week 10 at Minnesota (11/11), stafford
reached 71 career touchdown passes in 38 games, becoming only the
third player in Nfl history to throw 70 touchdowns in fewer than 40
games. He joins Hall of fame QB Dan Marino (29) and QB Kurt Warner
(31) as the only quarterbacks in Nfl history to throw 70 touchdown
passes in fewer than 40 games.
¾ stafford also became the fourth lions quarterback in team history to
throw 70 career touchdown passes, which includes Hall of fame QB
Bobby layne (118), QB Greg landry (80) and QB scott Mitchell (79).
¾ stafford’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Te Brandon Pettigrew in Week
10 at Minnesota (11/11) gave him 70 touchdown passes for his career
and moved him past QB Gary Dainelson (69: 1976-84) for four-place
all-time in team history.
¾ on his first pass attempt of the game in Week 10 at Minnesota (11/11),
resulting in a 10-yard completion to Te Brandon Pettigrew, stafford
surpassed QB Joey Harrington (10,242) for sixth place on the lions
all-time career passing yards list. He finished the game with 329 yards
to increase his career yards total to 10,562 yards and is now 149 yards
behind QB eric Hipple (10,711) for fifth place all-time in team history.
¾ With 329 passing yards at Minnesota (11/11), stafford has now reached
2,500 yards in the first nine games of the season for the second consecutive
year. in 2011, he threw for 2,508 yards in the first nine games
of the season. With 2,722 yards, stafford has the most passing yards
through nine games by a lions quarterback.
¾ stafford, who has now accomplished this twice, is the only quarterback
in team history to throw for 2,500 yards in the season’s first nine
games of the season.
¾ on a 28-yard completion to Te Tony scheffler in the first quarter at
Jacksonville (11/4), stafford surpassed 10,000 yards for his career. He
became the second fastest player in Nfl history to reach 10,000 career
yards, doing so in 37 career games. only QB Kurt Warner took fewer
games (36) to reach 10,000 career passing yards.
¾ stafford is also the fourth youngest quarterback (24 yrs, 271 days) to
throw for 10,000 career yards. only QB Drew Bledsoe (23, 299), QB
Dan Marino (24 yrs, 63 days) and QB Peyton Manning (24 yrs, 212 days)
reached 10,000 career yards at younger ages. among lions quarterbacks,
stafford breaks the franchise record for fewest games to pass
for 10,000 yards with 37. Previously, QB scott Mitchell held the fastest
mark when he threw for 10,000 yards in 45 games.
¾ stafford also became the seventh quarterback in lions history to throw
for 10,000 yards with the club.
¾ in Week 8 vs. seattle, stafford rallied the lions to a 28-24 comeback
victory over the seahawks in Week 8 (10/28) as he connected with Wr
Titus young on a 1-yard touchdown strike with :20 seconds remaining in
the fourth quarter. The game-winning drive was the ninth of his career.
¾ The 17-point comeback at Philadelphia (10/14/12) was stafford’s eighth
career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime and the
second overtime winning drive of his career.
¾ since the beginning of the 2011 season, stafford has engineered six
fourth quarter/overtime game-winning drives, including two this season.
¾ stafford finished the game throwing for 311 yards, the 12th of his fouryear
career (34 career starts).
¾ in 2012, stafford is 126-of-217 for 1,496 yards with eight touchdowns,
and has a passer rating of 87.6 in the fourth quarter.
¾ With 311 passing yards and 22 completions, stafford moved up on
the team’s career passing yards (9,333) and completions (815) list.
He passed QB Jon Kitna (9,034, 2006-08) for seventh place on the
team’s career passing list and Kitna (795, 2006-08) for seventh on the
career completions list.
¾ stafford is the seventh player in lions history with 800 career pass
completions.
¾ since the beginning of the 2011 season, stafford has engineered six
fourth quarter/overtime game-winning drives, including two this season.
¾ stafford finished the game throwing for 311 yards, the 12th of his fouryear
career (34 career starts).
¾ The 24-point comeback at Dallas (10/2/11) was the third 20+-point
comeback of his career, and second in consecutive weeks, making the
lions the only team to do so in Nfl history. stafford now joins Hall
of fame QB Bobby layne as the only quarterbacks in team history to
lead the lions back to victories from 24-point deficits. stafford led the
team’s only 24-point comeback on the road.
¾ With the 24-point comeback on the road, the lions tied an Nfl record
for the largest comeback by a road team, accomplished three previous
times. The last 24-point comeback occurred December 6, 1992 when the
los angeles rams won at Tampa Bay 31-27 after trailing by 24 points.
¾ The 20-point comeback at Minnesota (9/25/11) was the second
20+-point comeback engineered stafford during his career. in 2009,
he helped bring the lions back from 21 points down vs. Cleveland
(11/22/09) at ford field. The comeback against the Vikings was also the
lions largest halftime deficit to overcome in team history (20 points).