Thoughts of "here we go again" no doubt permeated among the less-than-capacity Ford Field crowd by the end of the first quarter Sunday when the Browns, who were blanked six days prior, took a 24-3 lead on the Lions. But the Lions and their too-young-to-know-the-difference quarterback, Matthew Satfford, went to work. They chipped away, tying the game and eventually taking the lead before giving it back up again. And then, on the final drive of the afternoon, Stafford led the Lions 88 yards in the final 1:46 for the game-winning score. It wasn't pretty, but it could be a game we look back upon as a turning point for this young team.

The PFW spin

The fact that the Lions struggled to stop the toothless Browns offense — which rolled up 439 yards of offense and 22 first downs and converted 10-of-19 third-down attempts — for most of the game is a clear indication that the team has a long way to go to be competitive. But they have one thing, it appears: a quarterback who will gut his way through any game.

Stafford has had his share of rough spots this season. He was humbled in Week One, perhaps not ready to start in the NFL. He was sacked five times at Chicago, despite a then-career high in passing yards, and suffered a kneecap injury that kept him out two games. And two weeks ago, at Seattle, Stafford threw five interceptions, a game in which the Lions actually led early.

But at no point has he appeared overwhelmed, and his effort has made an impression on Lions fans, many of whom did not want him in the first place. Stafford is working with a less-than-full offensive deck, and he is still a work in progress. His two interceptions and the safety he took Sunday are clear indications that he needs to tighten up his overall body of work. But throughout the comeback against the Browns, he showed toughness, leadership and the physical skills that made him the No. 1 pick in the draft.

The Lions know that this game should be put in perspective. The Browns are a bad football team whose one win came by a field goal against a team who has fired its coach. But these kinds of games, Stafford's first NFL comeback, are what you use to build confidence. The final drive wasn't the prettiest thing, but it was effective. Sure, luck played a part — the Lions were bailed out by pass interference on what should have been the final play, but Stafford kept the play going and gave his receivers a chance to make a play.

And there's a level of grittiness and intelligence to Stafford that his coaches just love. He suffered a shoulder injury on the Hail Mary pass, but because he had to come out of the game, he thought his afternoon was done. But when Cleveland called timeout, Stafford instantly knew two things: He could re-enter the game and he had enough in him for one more play. The way head coach Jim Schwartz said it, Stafford reinserted himself for the play. He's 21 years old, just playing a game. There's something refreshing and great about that, especially for a franchise that hit rock bottom a year ago.

Stafford's final throw was a trust throw, a dart inside two defenders to a fellow rookie that had to be released exactly when it was or TE Brandon Pettigrew would have been covered or too deep in the endzone to make a play. And when you look back at the balls Stafford threw throughout the game (most of them, anyway), you start to think that perhaps this kid has a little something special. He might not have Brett Favre's magic gene, but he is in the same neighborhood in terms of his toughness. Stafford isn't the scrambler that John Hadl was, but he also is country-tough and strong and is a little bigger than Hadl. And watching him closely, there's no doubt that Stafford belongs in the Joe Flacco-Carson Palmer-Jay Cutler class for arm strength.

What does it all add up to? For the Lions, it's one small building block on the way back to respectability. But stow this game tape away. We just might be revisiting this one when the Lions are making their playoff push in December 2011.

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