Lions' Stafford named Offensive MVP in first Pro Bowl

GLENDALE, Ariz. – It took injuries to a few of the players picked in front of him for Matthew Stafford to make his first Pro Bowl, but when the Detroit Lions quarterback left the field once and for all Sunday, there was little doubt he belonged.

Stafford threw for 316 yards, the second most in Pro Bowl history, and two touchdowns to lead his Team Irvin to a 32-28 win over Team Carter at University of Phoenix Stadium.

He played seven series, including most of the first half, and was named the game's Offensive MVP.

"I felt like I had some good years in this league and haven't got a chance to play in this, so just (wanted to) go out here and try to show people that I belonged here and I think that worked," Stafford said.

The first Lions quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since Greg Landry after the 1971 season, Stafford was the fourth alternate at the quarterback position and was picked for the game only after Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger withdrew because of injuries and Tom Brady and Russell Wilson couldn't play because they made the Super Bowl.

Tony Romo started at quarterback for Team Irvin, named for honorary coach Michael Irvin, but gave way to Stafford after just one series.

Stafford led his team to points on three of his first four drives and hit Lions teammate Golden Tate for a 60-yard gain on his first pass, the biggest play of the game.

Tate broke a Sam Shields tackle on the play and raced up field before Shields hauled him down at the 10-yard line. One play later, Stafford threaded his first touchdown pass of the game to Emmanuel Sanders just beyond the outstretched hands of safety Donte Whitener.

"He deserves (the MVP award)," Tate said. "He was slinging it, making plays out there left and right. Hit me a few times, so that was good. I'm happy for him."

Stafford, who had former Lions and current Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as his play caller Sunday, completed 15 of 25 passes.

J.J. Watt, the game's Defensive MVP, made a leaping interception on Stafford's final pass of the first half near the goal line as Team Irvin was going in for another score, and Stafford also was credited with a fumble on a botched handoff on the first play of the third quarter.

He threw a 6-yard touchdown pass on a fade route to Jimmy Graham in the second quarter, and said he had "a blast" at Pro Bowl festivities during the week.

"We had some great players on our team," said Stafford, who threw to the likes of Tate, Graham, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jason Witten. "Playing with these guys was so much fun, especially the quarterback position, when you get so many guys with so much talent, they make you look pretty good."

Tate, who like Stafford was a late add to the team, had two catches for 98 yards in his first ever Pro Bowl appearance, and Lions safety Glover Quin, who played for Team Carter, name for honorary coach Cris Carter, had five tackles and one pass breakup.

Quin was in coverage on Sanders' first touchdown and misplayed Tate's long pass, but he also broke up a pass to Graham in the end zone when Team Irvin had to settle for a field goal.

"He came up to me and asked if I was going at him," Stafford said of Quin. "I said, 'No, the coverage told me to throw it, Glover. Don't worry about it.' But no, it was fun. He played great. He got me on the next one, cut off Jimmy Graham in the end zone."

Two other Lions, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh, were named to the Pro Bowl but withdrew because of injuries, giving the Lions five Pro Bowl selections for the first time since 2000.

Jason Hanson, David Sloan, Stephen Boyd, Robert Porcher and Luther Elliss made the game that year for the Lions.

Stafford, who threw for 4,257 yards and 22 touchdowns this year, also won a truck as the game's Offensive MVP.

Manning, who threw for 342 yards in the 2004 Pro Bowl, is the only quarterback with more passing yards in the all-star game.