Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant (3) celebrates kicking the game winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks looked to be in good position to join the ranks of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history when they took a late lead after trailing by as much as 20 points earlier in the game. The Falcons had just 31 seconds to work with but it was all they would need to kick a field goal to render the Seattle comeback moot.

While the story of the 1992 Bills is well known, the Seahawks would have actually been the fourth team to come back from 20 or more points to win a playoff game. The 49ers did it in 2002 but the feat was first accomplished by the Detroit Lions in 1957.

The ’57 Lions found themselves on the road and trailing the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 27-7 in the third quarter. A pair of Tom Tracy touchdown runs and another from Gene Gedman and the Lions turned that deficit into a 28-27 fourth quarter lead. Jim Martin added a field goal to give the Lions the 31-27 win.

A week later the Lions would go on to blow out the Cleveland Browns 59-14 to win their fourth NFL Championship.

Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dexter Davis (58) pressures Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter at Ford Field. Detroit won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

Here is an understatement: The Lions HAD to have that one.

Head coach Jim Schwartz would never admit that a Week 8 matchup is a must-win game, but that’s exactly what their game against the Seahawks was. The Lions had to get a W, and did just that in their 28-24 victory over Seattle.

Of course, like all Lions game thus far in the season, it wasn’t without its fair share of nail-biting moments.

Like every game so far in 2012, the Lions faced their normal first-half deficit because of their normal tendencies at the beginning of each week. The D-Line still could not contain their excitement and jumped offsides on multiple occasions. Quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to have poor throwing mechanics that cause him to miss open receivers. And the team is always losing the field position battle because of poor special teams’ play (I’m looking at you, Logan).

But just like in the games against the Rams and Eagles, and for much of the season last year, Stafford and Co. find ways to overcome all the mistakes to notch another tally in the win column.

Despite some of the same mistakes we’ve seen all year long, there were plenty of positives to come out of the win.

While inaccurate at times, this was the Matthew Stafford that Lions’ fans have grown accustomed to watching. The fourth-year quarterback had four total touchdowns on the day (3 pass, 1 rush), including the game-pass to Titus Young to cap off an 80-yard drive that nearly ate up the entire game clock to secure the victory.

Speaking of Young, he stepped right into Burleson’s shoes and displayed the flashes we all saw at times during his rookie season. He and rookie wideout Ryan Broyles had their best games of the season by far, combining for 137 yards receiving and three scores. Their ability to get open and catch the football is vital if the Lions want to sustain this sort of offensive production for the rest of the season.

The defense did not have as a good a game as the offense did.

After accounting for nine sacks the past two weeks, the defensive line put up a goose egg. The defensive ends also got sucked into the play action frequently, and did not keep their containment on rollouts. The linebacker play was sup-par as well with DeAndre Levy’s absence being evident, especially when Marshawn Lynch broke free for a 77-yard touchdown scamper. That’s something the LB core is rarely giving up thus far in the year are those big chunks in the ground game.

One of the lone bright spots was that of Ricardo Silva, who was a surprise add to the starting lineup with Amari Spievey out with a concussion. The second-year safety has his suspect moments (out of position on Lynch TD run), but is always making a play when he gets the chance. He picked off a Russell Wilson pass in Lions territory right after Stafford gave the Seahawks the ball with an interception of his own.

The Lions did what they had to do, though. Get a home victory against an NFC opponent was key if they wanted any shot at making the playoffs in 2012.

Next on the docket is another must-win, but for a much different reason. The Lions need to get back to beating the teams they should beat. The Jaguars are one of those teams, and there is no reason the Lions should have to come back from a deficit to get a win in Jacksonville.

Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Tony Scheffler (85), guard Rob Sims (67), and running back Joique Bell (35) celebrate the touchdown by wide receiver Titus Young (bottom) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Detroit won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

The Detroit Lions have followed one of two scripts this season: trail at the half and come up short in the end or trail at the half and complete the comeback. The Lions went with the latter today.

Matthew Stafford has gained quite a reputation for leading game-winning touchdown drives and today’s win over the Seattle Seahawks only adds to that growing legend. Stafford found Titus Young in the end zone with 20 seconds remaining to give the Lions the 28-24 win.

Perhaps the best news of this comeback is that it wasn’t necessitated by three quarters of poor play by Stafford and the rest of the Lions offense. Ryan Broyles caught a touchdown pass on the last play of the first quarter and Titus Young hauled in a 46-yard bomb to score the Lions’ second touchdown of the first half. The Lions’ offense was putting up points but so was the Seahawks’. As a result, the Lions trailed at the half for the seventh time this season.

The Lions took the lead early in the fourth when Matthew Stafford took the ball in from one yard out but a circus catch by Seahawks’ tight end Zach Miller put the Seahawks back up 24-21 with 5:27 remaining.

It’s a situation the Lions have faced before and they reacted just as they have many times before. They worked their way 80 yards down the field in 16 plays to score the winning touchdown and leave the Seahawks with little time on the clock.

The win gives the Lions the opportunity to get back to the .500 mark with a win at Jacksonville next week.