The Comeback Kids

Johnson, left and Stafford, right stormed back
in the second half Sunday.

After a thrilling second half performance, that saw them overcome a 20-0 halftime deficit, last week at Minnesota, the Detroit Lions did much of the same Sunday in Dallas. Detroit found themselves down 17-0 in the second quarter and 20-3 at the break against America's Dallas Cowboys.

Tony Romo, who was fresh off back-to-back second half comebacks on his own, look good early, utilizing an effective running game with Felix Jones and hooking up with the second-year receiver Dez Bryant for two first half touchdowns.

But it was the contributions of wide-out Laurent Robinson, filling in for the injured Miles Austin, that got Romo in a rhythm early.

Robinson finished the game with 116 yards catching 7 of the 10 balls thrown his way.

The Cowboys opened the third quarter with a 6-play 46-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Romo to tight end Jason Witten, increasing their lead 27-3. The Lions perfect start was in serious jeopardy with their defense reeling.

Rob Ryan's defense forced a Detroit punt, putting Romo and Co. back on the turf, looking for more. Instead former Cowboy cast-off Bobby Carpenter intercepted the Dallas signal caller and took it to the house for the Lions' first touchdown. The very next possession, Romo threw his second pick-6 in less than five minutes, this time courtesy of cornerback Chris Houston.

Rookie kicker Dan Bailey would add his third field goal of the game for Dallas, making the lead 30-17, but Detroit roared back outscoring the Cowboys 17-0 in the fourth quarter, showcased by two Calvin Johnson touchdown receptions from quarterback Matthew Stafford, completing yet another second half, double-digit comeback, 34-30.

Although the Lions' defense was shaky at the start, they were the key to success late without any many contributions from their Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

The Cowboys offensive line held Suh in check, having him record 3 tackles and only one of those going for a loss. It was the inconsistent play of Romo, who threw 3 second half interceptions, that handed Dallas their first home loss of the season and second overall.

Romo finished the game 34 for 47, 331 yards, 3 TD and 3 INT.

Despite being pressured most of the game,
Romo was able to protect his fractured ribs
only being hit twice and sacked once.

The Cowboys final seven possessions of the game consisted of three interceptions, two of those coming on the first play of the drive, a field goal, two punts, and a turnover on downs. Compare that to their first seven possessions when they turned five of them into scoring drives.

The loss drops the Cowboys 2-2 on the young season, good enough for third-place in the highly contested NFC East, behind the first-place Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

For the Lions, they are now 4-0 for the first time since 1980 and find themselves tied atop the NFC North with the defending Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers. What's most impressive about Detroit's perfect start is three of their four wins have come on the road. They will start a three-game home stand in the Motor City next week, welcoming in the division-rival Chicago Bears.

If Stafford, who went to the same high school as the last quarterback, Bobby Layne, to bring a championship to Detroit, can stay healthy, the Lions look prime to make their first playoff appearance since 1999.

Veteran offensive tackle Jeff Backus, who has played his entire 11-year career in Detroit, called last weeks 26-23 OT victory over the Vikings the greatest game of his career. That might have been true considering he hadn't won in the Metrodome in his last thirteen trips.

He might want to rethink that, now.