Lions QB Matthew Stafford takes Wild Card loss vs. Cowboys

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 28 of his 42 pass attempts for 323 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his team's 24-20 loss to the Cowboys in Sunday's Wild Card game.

Stafford put his team out to a quick lead, connecting with Golden Tate on a 51-yard touchdown less than five minutes into the game. He then drove the team down for another touchdown later in the quarter to give the Lions a big lead. Stafford's interception came on a batted ball on the first play of the second half, but it didn't cost the Lions after Dan Bailey missed a 41-yard field goal on the ensuing drive. However, the Lions offense mustered just a field goal through the entire second half and watched the Cowboys score 17 unanswered points to take the win.

The game was not without controversey, as a fourth-quarter flag against the Cowboys for pass interference on a pass from Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew was picked up after the penalty was announced, with no explanation given as to why the call was waved off. The noncall came on third-and-1 near midfield, and the ensuing shanked punt set the Cowboys up with great field position on what would turn out to be the go-ahead touchdown drive. Stafford acknowledged to media after the game that he believed the pass-inference call should have stood.