ALLEN PARK -- Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford were big heroes in the Detroit Lions' memorable win last week against the Dallas Cowboys.

But how about Reilly Reiff?

Riley Reiff is being applauded for playing, and playing well, through a hamstring injury the past two weeks.

Detroit's left tackle suffered a hamstring injury the prior week against Cincinnati, missed some practice and was limited when he did return. He was never a full go heading into the game.

But come Sunday, Reiff pulled up his boot straps and played through the pain.

Played, in fact, all 80 offensive snaps.

"The guy's a warrior. The guy's a fighter -- a battler," rookie tackle LaAdrian Waddle said. "He was hurting all week -- he was probably hurting in the game too.

"That garners a lot of respect from me, just to see a guy gut it out and push through something like that. I know how bad he was feeling against Cincinnati. Just seeing him do that really made an impression on me."

Reiff, a first-rounder out of Iowa in 2012, is in his first season as Detroit's starting left tackle. The club has been pleased with his play so far, and especially his consistency.

He struggled against Green Bay, allowing two sacks and five QB hurries. In the other seven games, though, he's allowed just one sack and 15 QB hurries.

Reiff had played every offensive snap until departing the Cincinnati game Oct. 20 with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Waddle.

But then right tackle Corey Hilliard went out with an injury of his own, and Jason Fox wasn't active. So Waddle slid over to the right side, and Reiff had no choice but to play through the pain.

"I think we all saw how tough he was," center Dominic Raiola said. "To do it at the level he did it, that's pretty good. Because he did it at a high level.

"Hat's off to him, man. He showed some guts."

Reiff, after playing through pain the past two games, is one of several players who benefited from resting over the bye week. Detroit resumes action Sunday in an important matchup against fellow playoff hopeful Chicago.