S&B Classics: The Cardiac Cats are Born (2009)
A Legendary Game
Information sourced from: Football Database, Pro Football Reference
Welcome to a new series here at Silver & Blues, outlining some of the most memorable Lions games in the modern history of Detroit as we wait for football to return to us in the fall. Today let’s turn the clock back to 2009 in a very memorable game at a time where there was not much to hope for.
November 22, 2009 - Browns @ Lions, Ford Field Detroit
Things were not going well for Detroit. Heading into this game the Lions stood at a record of 1 and 8 coming into week 10 of the 2009 season. The Lions offense was still finding its footing behind the likes of Dante Culpepper and rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions defense was still finding its identity as well. The city of Detroit, and the Detroit Lions, were still reeling from the 0-16 record the previous year, and were hoping to put some gas in the tank to finish strong. Hope came in the form of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Jim Schwartz.
Cleveland Comes Out Hot, The Lion Sleeps… for now
The game started out with the Lions and Browns trading field goals (The Lions FG kicked by none other than old man Hanson). However the Browns then went on a tear, with Brady Quinn throwing touchdowns to the likes of Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey, and Joshua Cribbs. I was not there, but I can imagine the air being sucked out of Ford Field as Lions fans braced for another brutal loss. However, the day was not over yet, in fact, the first quarter wasn’t even over.
Some would argue this is the game the Lions started to feel different. Started to… fan the embers of hope that something might just be brewing in Motown. On this day, it started with a 26 yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Aaron Brown bringing the score to 24-10 Cleveland.
The Lions Awaken
This is when the Lions and Matthew Stafford woke up. In later years games like this would become classics. Where Stafford lifted the game on to his shoulder and played what some call “hero ball”.
Stafford proceeded to throw a 25 yard pass to Kevin Smith for a touchdown. A 75 yard pass to Calvin Johnson for a touchdown. A 1 yard pass to Will Heller for a touchdown. Through the 2nd and 3rd quarter the Lions scored 3 touchdowns where the Cleveland Browns were held to a field goal and a safety on Stafford. Heading into the 4th quarter the game was tight and hope was truly alive again.
The Injury, The Legend
Most Lions fans know what happened next. Part way through the fourth quarter Cleveland was up 37-31 after a Brady Quinn pass to Michael Gaines, the Lions just couldn’t hold them one more time. As Stafford was marching down the field with little time left, he took a nasty sack causing a very apparent injury to his left shoulder.
However, the Browns gave the Lions one more chance to come back, and to earn the badge of the Cardiac Cats we all knew for so many years. The Browns lined up with too many men on the field and were forced to call a timeout, that stopped the clock and gave the Lions one untimed down to try to seal the game. It seemed as though Dante Culpepper would make his way in to relieve Stafford. We have all seen the videos though. Stafford realized that he could now substitute in.
Stafford lined up, took the snap, and threw the game winning touchdown to Brandon Pettigrew. With a separated shoulder that would sideline him for the rest of the year. The crowd went wild.
While this game was 17 years ago now, it has one quality that we see much more often with the Lions of today: Grit. This game is exactly what Dan Campbell preaches about. He had nothing to do with it and the game was many many years ago. However, you can see it in this game, and I am glad this is how we play football today. (Lets stay away from Goff trying anything like Stafford did though)