The Sports Xchange
Dec 27, 2015
DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions snapped a nine-game losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers with a 32-17 victory on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who may have been playing his final home game, caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown for Detroit (6-9). The Lions will have to devote $24 million of their salary cap next season to retain Johnson, who caught just two passes in the previous two games, unless they restructure the perennial All-Pro's contract.
Second-year wideout T.J. Jones scored his first career touchdown on a 29-yard pass from Stafford during the second quarter. Matt Prater added four field goals for the Lions.
Blaine Gabbert passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers (4-11), who were shut out in the second half. San Francisco committed 11 penalties, several of which extended Detroit scoring drives.
Prater's 37-yard field goal gave the Lions a 23-17 lead in the third quarter. Stafford's one-yard scoring pass to Johnson, following San Francisco's second end zone pass interference infraction of the game, provided some breathing room with 9:04 remaining. Detroit's two-point conversion try failed, leaving the score at 29-17.
Prater's 34-yard field goal with 3:07 left completed the scoring.
Detroit led 20-17 at halftime.
Gabbert found tight end Vance McDonald for a one-yard score to cap an 80-yard drive after the opening kickoff.
Prater made a 36-yard field goal midway through the quarter. Stafford connected with Jones over the middle during the opening minute of the second quarter to put the Lions on top 10-7.
The 49ers quickly regained the lead on Gabbert's 16-yard scoring pass to Smith. That didn't last long, either, as Gabbert fumbled while getting sacked on San Francisco's next possession. Linebacker Tahir Whitehead recovered at the one-yard line and running back Joique Bell scored on the next play.
Phil Dawson, who missed a 45-yard field goal try earlier in the quarter, made a 40-yard kick in the final minute of the half to tie it at 17. But a long pass to wide receiver Golden Tate set up a 38-yard field goal by Prater on the final play of the half.
NOTES: 49ers WR Anquan Boldin made his 1,000th career reception during the team's first possession. Playing in his 185th career game, Boldin was the fifth fastest to reach that milestone behind only Marvin Harrison (167 games), Andre Johnson (168), Jerry Rice (181) and Larry Fitzgerald (182). ... Detroit's last victory over San Francisco was a 27-24 triumph on Sept. 25, 1995, at Ford Field. ... RB Shaun Draughn (knee), C Marcus Martin (concussion) and LB Michael Wilhoite (ankle) were among the inactives for the 49ers, who placed G Alex Boone (knee) on the reserve/injured list on Saturday. ... The Lions split their eight home games this season. San Francisco won just one of its road games. ... The last time San Francisco lost at least 11 games was the 2007 season. ... The 49ers scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season.