Stafford’s late leap forward stuns Cowboys

Even weary fans of the Dallas Cowboys could not have imagined how they would succumb to their nightmare defeat by the Detroit Lions when apparently in control of their NFC clash in Motown on Sunday.

Detroit’s star receiver Calvin Johnson almost broke the all-time record for reception yardage — his incredible contribution of 329 yards driving the Lions to a thrilling 31-30 victory.

In the dying moments of an incredible game, his quarterback, Matthew Stafford, led a brave late drive as far as the Dallas one-yard line at which point Stafford caught the Cowboys defence off guard by leaping in for his own touchdown instead of spiking the ball to stop the clock at 12 seconds to go.