SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 22, 2013
Lions 27, Redskins 20: Matthew Stafford threw for 385 yards and two touchdowns as Detroit snapped a lengthy road losing streak against Washington.
Stafford completed 25-of-42 passes and Joique Bell had 20 carries for 63 yards and a score while filling in for the injured Reggie Bush. Nate Burleson made six catches for 116 yards and Calvin Johnson hauled in seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (2-1), who had lost 21 consecutive road meetings - including playoffs - with the Redskins.
Robert Griffin III was 32-of-50 for 326 yards and an interception for Washington (0-3), which is off to an 0-3 start for the first time since losing its first five games in 2001. DeAngelo Hall returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown and Alfred Morris rushed for 73 yards and a score.
Detroit capitalized on an early fourth-quarter fumble by Griffin, who lost possession when hitting the ground untouched after a 21-yard scamper. Stafford connected with Burleson on a 47-yard pass that put the ball on the Washington 10 and, after three incompletions, David Akers booted a 28-yard field goal with 11:08 left for a 20-17 lead.
Washington appeared to move ahead less than two minutes later, but Griffin's 57-yard pass to Aldrick Robinson that initially was called a touchdown was negated after the referee ruled the receiver did not maintain possession after falling to the ground. The Redskins eventually punted, and Stafford completed a nine-play, 71-yard drive with an 11-yard TD throw to Johnson with 3:56 remaining, sealing the victory.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Bush was inactive due to a knee injury suffered in last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. ... Detroit had not won a road game in the series since Oct. 13, 1935, when the Redskins played in Boston. ... Griffin ran for 37 yards on six carries after gaining only 25 yards on nine rushes over his first two games. ... After outscoring its opponents 26-0 in the fourth quarter over the first two contests, Washington allowed 10 points in the final period while scoring only three.