ALLEN PARK, Mich. — In Jim Caldwell’s first season as head coach, the Detroit Lions are 6-2 and have proved capable of winning in a variety of different ways.

In Week 1, the offense carried the team, but the No. 1-ranked defense has carried the team for the most part since.

The Lions’ most impressive wins were the final two games before the bye. Against the New Orleans Saints, they overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and against the Atlanta Falcons, they scored 22 second-half points to win after trailing 21-0 at halftime.

The last two wins are games the Lions likely wouldn’t have won in the recent past, and the team has proved it can win regardless of the circumstances.

“I think that’s extremely important,” Caldwell said of the comebacks. “I think that’s a part of developing mental toughness. I think that’s a part of the character. Obviously, you have to have some talent as well, and I think the combination of those things make a tremendous difference.

“But you have to have guys that want the ball in their hands down the stretch. You have to have guys that are willing to step up and give you everything they’ve got to get it done. In particular, when they can see obviously there’s a possibility of a victory in sight and just never give up.”

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has proved again that he can step up late in games, which was a signature early in his career but became a problem the past two seasons.

Stafford is completing just 61.2 percent of his passes, ranking 23rd in the NFL. He’s 15th in yards per attempt (7.41), tied for 14th in touchdown passes (11), tied for eighth in interceptions (7) and 23rd in rating (86.5). But with two more game-winning drives this season, he already has 14 in his first six seasons.

The worst situation imaginable, of course, was All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson being out with a high-ankle sprain, but the Lions won the last three games without him. Although the Lions have won, they’ll look for a lift of offense as they rank 21st in yards (338.8) and 25th in points (20.3) per game at the midway point. The NFL’s 31st-ranked rushing attack must improve, too.

Despite the expectations for the offense being high, the defense has far exceeded expectations thanks to career years by several players, most notably safety Glover Quin and cornerback Darius Slay. Led by All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and soon-to-be Pro Bowler DeAndre Levy, the defense ranks first in yards (290.4) and points (15.8) allowed per game

Now, the Lions have to find a way to avoid losing focus during the week off to ensure they don’t lose any of the charm that has helped them the past two weeks.

“I think our guys have certainly done their best and have given us their best and have done a tremendous job overall,” Caldwell said. “But we still have a lot of work to do and this second half of the season is going to be difficult for us.”