It had been a long time since a Detroit Lions quarterback had played in the Pro Bowl.

Matthew Stafford made up for lost time in Sunday night’s Pro Bowl when he finished with a pair of touchdowns and 316 passing yards, second-most in Pro Bowl history.

For his efforts he won the Offensive MVP. 

Afterward he said it was a blast and gave credit to his Pro Bowl teammates.

He connected with wide receiver Golden Tate on a 60-yard pass play that set up the first touchdown. Tate had two catches for 98 yards. His touchdown passes were caught by Emmanuel Sanders and Odell Beckham Jr.

Stafford, who was a fourth alternate and played in place of Peyton Manning, proved he belonged.

In the game he was reunited with Scott Linehan, the Lions’ offensive coordinator for Stafford’s first five seasons. Linehan is a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff that worked the Pro Bowl.

Lions safety Glover Quin finished with five tackles and a pass deflection.

Houston’s J.J. Watt was the defensive MVP.

Greg Landry was the last Lions’ quarterback to appear in a Pro Bowl in 1972.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)