Detroit Lions vs New York Jets Match Player Stats On Sep 28, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 28, 2014

Lions 24, Jets 17: Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as visiting Detroit toppled New York.

Stafford finished 24-of-34 for 293 yards and tossed scoring strikes to Jeremy Ross and rookie tight end Eric Ebron for the NFC North-leading Lions (3-1), who have won two in a row. Golden Tate matched a career high with eight receptions for 116 yards while stud wideout Calvin Johnson was limited to two catches as he nursed an ailing ankle.

Geno Smith went 17-of-33 for 209 yards and tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker for the Jets (1-3), who have dropped three in a row to an NFC North representative. Chris Johnson raced for a 35-yard touchdown and Chris Ivory rushed for 51 of his team-leading 84 yards on the opening drive.

Stafford threw his touchdown passes nearly six minutes apart in the second quarter to give Detroit a 17-3 lead. His first was a deep ball that the speedy Ross chased down for a 59-yard score with 6:19 remaining before his 16-yard strike to Ebron came with 22 seconds left.

Decker trimmed the deficit after he extended his body to reach the goal line midway through the third, but Stafford gave the Lions a 24-10 edge by capping his team's season-long 14-play, 90-yard drive by racing just inside the pylon for a 1-yard score. Chris Johnson once again brought New York within seven points as he scampered up the middle for his first touchdown for his new team with under seven minutes to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Smith apologized after the game for uttering a profanity to a Jets fan that was caught on camera. ... Detroit's Joique Bell left the game in the third quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion while fellow RB Theo Riddick suffered a hamstring injury. ... Tate reached the 100-yard receiving plateau for the fourth time of his career. ... Pop singer/reality television star Jesse James sang the national anthem prior to the game. James is married to Decker.