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Matthew Stafford’s 40 memorable moments: The finale

By Payne Schanski

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 21: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 21: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

35. Stafford the MVP killer (2018)

One of the bizarre side notes from the otherwise forgettable 2018 is the dominance of the Lions when Stafford matched up against quarterbacks who were former NFL MVPs. In four games against MVPs, Stafford and the Lions went 4-0, starting out with a thrashing of the eventual Super Bowl champs on national TV that looks even more out of place a year and a half later than it did when we saw it live.

Stafford easily outplayed Tom Brady in the 26-10 win, then took down Aaron Rodgers twice as well as Cam Newton (see below). While it was one of his worst seasons both statistically and in the win column, Stafford rose to the occasion four times in a row against QBs who have all played in Super Bowls, all won MVPs, and all have raised their play to the very highest levels.

36. Golladay Game Winner (Nov. 18, 2018)

This game did little to convince anyone that the 4-6 Lions were playoff contenders (they were essentially eliminated the next week vs Chicago), but this final drive and diving touchdown by Golladay did provide some temporary joy around Ford Field. This was Stafford’s only game winning drive of the 2018 season. For Kenny Golladay, it was one more chapter in his ever-growing portfolio of spectacular clutch catches.

37. Golladay Game Winner (Re-run) (Sept. 15, 2019)

For a long time, a critique on Stafford was that his success was mainly Calvin Johnson’s doing. Over the past three years, it sometimes feels like the inverse is happening with Kenny Golladay. The 3rd round mid-major college product now has back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons with the Lions, helped in large part to Stafford’s confidence and trust in clutch situations almost immediately.

Golladay no doubt has earned every last bit of his success, but passes like this perfectly-placed 31 yard dart to score the go-ahead touchdown against the Chargers in Week Two certainly don’t hurt either.

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