4-0 Lions wipe out Cowboys' 24-point lead

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matthew Stafford took the final snap, dropped to a knee and tucked the ball under his jersey for safekeeping. He wanted a souvenir of his first NFL game in his hometown -- not that he, or anyone else involved, is likely to forget this one.

A week after turning a 20-0 halftime deficit into an overtime win, the Lions provided further proof they're a legitimate contender, overcoming a 24-point, third-quarter deficit for a 34-30 win over the Cowboys.

Detroit started its rally Sunday by returning interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive drives. Then Stafford and Calvin Johnson hooked up for two touchdowns in the final quarter, including a 2-yarder for the winner with 1:39 left.

"It's crazy how it happens," Stafford said. "When it was 27-3, we knew we had to start making plays. Once we did, we started catching fire."

Detroit (4-0) has won an NFL-best eight straight games. This also was its franchise-record fifth straight road win.

Tony Romo and the Cowboys (2-2) continued to show no lead is safe for them. This was their largest lead blown in a loss in franchise history.

Meltdowns against the Jets in Week 1 and this one are bookends around two late-game wins pulled out by Romo despite a cracked rib. This time Romo was the goat because of the two pick-sixes and another interception with 4:13 left that set up the winning score.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was quick to defend him, saying: "I have a lot of faith in Romo. This doesn't touch that."

Appropriately, Dallas' final play was wacky. Felix Jones caught a short pass with no one around him on fourth-and-20, then ran out of bounds after gaining only 8 yards.

Romo completed 34 of 47 for 331 yards and three TDs. He wore a protective vest and needed a painkilling injection, but he did fine until former Cowboy Bobby Carpenter made a leaping interception and a weaving, 35-yard return for a touchdown.

It was still 27-10, so it seemed harmless, except that it gave the Lions hope. Cornerback Chris Houston's 56-yard interception return for another TD provided more on the next series.

"The key play of the game was Bobby Carpenter," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "We had no juice before that. It didn't turn the tide completely, but it did give us the spark.''