If you've ever run out of gas, you know from experience just how quickly a lack of fuel can cause your car to stall. If this happens, the ECU may direct less fuel to be injected, which can cause the engine to stall. If the MAF isn't functioning as it should, the ECU may get incorrect information.
The mass airflow sensor, or MAF, is the sensor that's responsible for telling the ECU the mass of the air that's coming into the engine. The ECU, or engine control unit, gets information from a number of sensors and adjusts the injection based on this information. In modern fuel injected engines, a number of components are required to inject the precise mixture of fuel and air into the combustion chambers. Your engine needs a steady supply of air in order to keep functioning.