SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 23, 2014
Patriots 34, Lions 9: Tom Brady went 38-of-53 for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns as New England blasted visiting Detroit to pick up its seventh straight win.
Tight end Tim Wright caught both scoring strikes and Brandon LaFell racked up 98 receiving yards for the Patriots (9-2), who have won 15 straight regular-season games at home. LeGarrette Blount, who was signed as a free agent on Thursday, ran for 78 yards and two scores as New England rolled up 439 yards on the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
Matthew Stafford went 18-of-46 for 264 yards and an interception for the Lions (7-4). Matt Prater connected on 3-of-4 field goal tries as Detroit reached the red zone only once.
The Lions forced the Patriots to go three-and-out on each of their first two possessions before Brady and the offense found a rhythm. Brady hit Wright with a 4-yard TD pass and Danny Amendola returned a kickoff 81 yards to set up Blount’s 3-yard score for a 14-6 lead.
New England marched 93 yards and Brady hit Wright with an 8-yard TD with 2:42 left in the first half and Detroit could get nothing on the ensuing possession, leaving Brady just enough time to get the Patriots into position for a 35-yard field goal and a 24-6 lead at the break. The Lions managed a 49-yard field goal in the second half and Blount’s 1-yard TD with 1:53 left capped the rout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Patriots RB Jonas Gray, who ran for 201 yards and four TDs last week, did not receive a carry against the Lions. … New England K Stephen Gostkowski went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and knocked through four extra points to move into second place on the team’s all-time scoring list, 15 points behind Adam Vinatieri (1,158). … Lions LB Ashlee Palmer left with a concussion and did not return.