DETROIT — Matthew Stafford got a shotgun snap, dropped back, slid left, rolled right and ran up the middle through three defenders who had a chance to stop him.
Stafford’s go-ahead, 7-yard touchdown with 3:17 left made up for his two interceptions in the fourth quarter, one that was returned for a score, and helped the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 20-17 Sunday.
The Lions became the first team in NFL history to have eight comeback wins from fourth-quarter deficits, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
“Finding ways to win is what we do,” Stafford said.
Stafford usually does it with his right arm.
With the middle finger on his right hand taped up and covered by a white glove, Stafford struggled to throw at times. When it was time to run and score, he wasn’t going to stop himself short of the end zone.
“It’s the fourth quarter, go time, you’ve got to make a play,” Stafford said. “I surely wasn’t going to slide on the 2.”
The NFC North-leading Lions (9-4) have won five straight and 8 of 9, moving them a step closer to winning a division title for the first time in 23 years.
BENGALS 23, BROWNS 10: Robert Griffin III returned from injury but couldn’t keep Cleveland from falling closer to infamy, as visiting Cincinnati (5-7-1) built a big early lead and held off the Browns (0-13).
Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to Tyler Eifert as the Bengals kept their slim playoff chances alive for another week.
Griffin started for the first time since getting hurt in the opener. He scored on a 1-yard sneak in the third quarter, but the Browns lost their 16th straight dating to Dec. 13 last season. They have three games left to avoid joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the NFL’s only 0-16 teams.
BUCCANEERS 16, SAINTS 11: Tampa Bay (8-5) bolstered its playoff hopes by building an early lead and holding off visiting New Orleans (5-8) for its fifth straight victory.
Doug Martin scored on a 1-yard run, Roberto Aguayo kicked three field goals and an improving defense intercepted Drew Brees three times.
PACKERS 38, SEAHAWKS 10: Aaron Rodgers passed for 246 yards and three touchdowns and Green Bay (7-6) routed visiting Seattle (8-4-1).
Russell Wilson threw a career-high five interceptions, helping the Packers (7-6) win their third straight.
WASHINGTON 27, EAGLES 22: Chris Thompson’s 25-yard touchdown run with 1:54 remaining lifted Washington (7-5-1) to a win at Philadelphia (5-8).
Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes, including an 80-yarder to DeSean Jackson.
Carson Wentz drove Philadelphia to the Washington 14 in the final minute, but Ryan Kerrigan sacked him to force a fumble and seal the win.
FALCONS 42, RAMS 14: Matt Ryan passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns, and Atlanta (8-5) forced five turnovers in a win at Los Angeles (4-9).
Deion Jones returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown, and Vic Beasley forced a fumble by Jared Goff and returned it for another TD during Atlanta’s comprehensive pummeling of the Rams.
VIKINGS 25, JAGUARS 16: Matt Asiata scored on a short touchdown run, Kai Forbath kicked four field goals and visiting Minnesota (7-6) won for just the second time in nine weeks.
The Jaguars (2-11) dropped their eighth consecutive game and fell to 0-6 at home.
TEXANS 22, COLTS 17: Lamar Miller scored Houston’s only touchdown and the visiting Texans (7-6) stopped Andrew Luck on Indy’s final drive to maintain a share of the AFC South lead with Tennessee.
Luck drove the Colts (6-7) to the Texans 42 with 1:24 left. But on fourth-and-1, a blitz forced an errant screen pass to Robert Turbin.
PANTHERS 28, CHARGERS 16: Carolina (5-8) forced five turnovers by Philip Rivers and had five sacks and a safety in a win against visiting San Diego (5-8).
JETS 23, 49ERS 17: Bilal Powell ran for 145 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown in overtime, and visiting New York (4-9) rallied a 14-point deficit.
San Francisco (1-12) led 17-3 at halftime, but fell flat after that and lost a franchise-worst 12th straight game.
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