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Lions QB Matthew Stafford struggled in the fourth quarter during the second half of the season. (AP Photo)

MINNEAPOLIS -- David Akers nailed a 53-yard field goal to extend the Detroit Lions' fourth-quarter lead to 13-7 over the Minnesota Vikings.

It would not be enough.

In this season, no fourth-quarter lead ever seemed to be enough.

Detroit allowed Minnesota punt returner Marcus Sherels to slice his way 50 yards deep into Lions territory. Two plays later, Cordarrelle Patterson hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass that would prove to be the game-winner.

The Lions fell 14-13, the sixth time in seven games they lost after leading in the fourth quarter. They led or were tied in the fourth quarter of all but one game this season, but finished 7-9.

"It was something we did a really good job of in the first half of the season -- playing well in the fourth quarter," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "But for whatever reason, whether it be myself, defense, special teams, we have had some lapses that haven't helped our chances in winning games.

"In the NFL, you have to play good for all four quarters, and we understand that this is something you can improve on."

Stafford was central to the problem, completing just 24-of-65 passes (36.9 percent) in the fourth quarter of his past seven games.

He threw an interception to thwart a late comeback attempt in a Monday night game against Baltimore on Dec. 16, then came back the following week and threw a pick-six that erased a late seven-point lead against the New York Giants.

New York won that game in overtime, and Detroit was officially eliminated from the playoffs.

All told, the Lions were outscored 68-40 in the fourth quarter of their past seven games, after winning the first three quarters 120-93.

The Lions lost fourth-quarter leads of 27-23 against Pittsburgh, 21-17 against Tampa Bay, 14-6 and 20-14 against Philadelphia, 16-15 against Baltimore, 20-13 against New York and 13-7 against Minnesota. And that's just in the past seven weeks.

"That was a trend," coach Jim Schwartz said. "I think that when you play that many close games, it comes down to one (play). We also made some -- we beat Chicago on a two-point play stop. We beat Dallas coming back and making some plays and getting the ball. They weren't all losses.

"Ideally, you wouldn't be in that situation when you're within a score in the fourth quarter or you're ahead more than a score in the fourth quarter and you don't let it come down to that. We obviously have a lot of work to get to that point."