In Play Magazine
Lions 44-6 Win
The Lions defeated the St. Louis Rams 44-6 today at Ford Field. The last time the Lions scored 44 points in a game occurred when the Lions claimed a 44-7 win over Denver November 4, 2007.
Today’s 38 point margin of victory is the largest by the Lions since they beat Jacksonville 44-0 December 17, 1995
Defensive Stand
Detroit allowed just two field goals in today’s game vs. St. Louis. The last time the Lions did not allow the opponent to score a touchdown was vs. Seattle September 10, 2006 when they allowed just three field goals against the Seahawks. The Lions lost on a late field goal 9-6.
Today’s effort marked the first time the Lions allowed six points or less since they defeated Green Bay 17-3 September 11, 2005.
All Three Units Score
In the Lions’ 44-6 win today, the Lions scored on 3 passing touchdowns, 1 kickoff return touchdown and an interception return for touchdown. It marks the first time that all three units have scored for the Lions since they did so vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
Logan Takes Kickoff to House, Ties Record
WR Stefan Logan took a kickoff return following a Rams field goal 105 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 10-3 lead in the second quarter.
The 105-yarder ties a franchise record for the longest kickoff return in team history. He tied the record set by CB Terry Fair, who returned a kickoff 105 yards vs. Tampa Bay September 28, 1998.
Logan’s kickoff return for a touchdown was the team’s first since TE Casey FitzSimmons returned a onside kickoff 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Chicago September 30, 2007.
The kickoff return for touchdown was the second of Logan’s career.
Hill’s Career-Tying Three Touchdown Passes
When QB Shaun Hill connected with WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, it was Hill’s third touchdown pass of the game, which is the most he’s thrown for since joining the Lions and it ties his career high (3 vs. Tampa Bay December 23, 2007).
Hill now has passed for 10 touchdowns on the season, the second highest single-season tally of his career, including 9 touchdowns in his four starts this year. His career high is 13 in 8 starts while he was with San Francisco in 2008.
Hill is now 8-2 as a starter in home games during his career and 4-0 against the Rams.
Hill of a Day
Hill completed 21-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. His passing rating on the day was 117.6. His passer rating was the second highest of his career, second only to his 142.3 rating vs. St. Louis November 16, 2008.
Pick-Three
Second-year CB Alphonso Smith, who the Lions acquired via trade on September 6, 2010, recorded his third interception of the season, and he now has a pick in three-straight games. The last Lions player with interceptions in three-straight games was CB Dre Bly when he did so in four-straight games in 2005 (at TB 10/2/05; vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and at Cleveland 10/23/05
Smith registered his first career interception return for a touchdown when he picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and went 42-yards for the score.
The Lions, as a team, recorded 2 interceptions in the game. They have intercepted at least 2 passes in the past three games. The last time the Lions intercepted 2 passes in three-straight games was when they recorded two interceptions in four-straight games in 2005 (3 at TB 10/2/05; 2 vs. Baltimore 10/9/05, 3 vs. Carolina 10/16/05 and 3 at Cleveland 10/23/05).
Suh Tips and Picks
Rookie DT Ndamukong Suh recorded his first career interception when he tipped Rams QB Sam Bradford’s pass at the line of scrimmage and plucked the ball out of the air in the fourth quarter. Suh then returned the interception 20 yards to set up a Lions field goal.
Suh finished with three tackles on the day.
Best’s Total Yards over 100
Rookie RB Jahvid Best combined for 104 yards in today’s game, including 67 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards. It was his second-highest tally of total yards from scrimmage on the season. His high is 232 yards vs. Philadelphia September 19, 2010.
In two games at Ford Field, Best has totaled 336 yards from scrimmage (145 rushing and 191 receiving.
For Starters…
K Jason Hanson has now played in 292 career games, a franchise record. His tally of 292 career games are the third most by a player in NFL history for a team that drafted him and the third most among active players. He is 11th overall in League history in career games.
T Jeff Backus has extended his streak of consecutive games starting to 149. He has the longest streak among active interior (offense and defense) linemen in the League and his streak is the fifth longest in the NFL among active players.
Lions Halt Rams Drive in RedZone with Turnover
With the Rams driving deep in Lions territory during the first quarter, the Lions forced a fumble (DT Corey Williams) at the Lions 6-yard line, and it was picked up by Lions CB Alphozo Smith. Smith returned the fumble nine yards before the Rams forced a fumble that was then recovered by Lion CB Jonathan Wade. Wade returned the fumble 10 yards to give the Lions the ball at the Detroit 27-yard line.
The fumble was the 12th takeaway of the season for Detroit (5 interceptions, 7 fumbles).
Calvin Johnson Increases Lions Lead
WR Calvin Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from QB Shaun Hill with 6:14 left in the second quarter to put the Lions up 17-3. It was Johnson’s fourth touchdown reception of the year and Hill’s eighth touchdown toss.
Johnson has now scored touchdowns in three of the past four games.
On the drive, Hill was 8-for-9 passing for 78 yards, WR Nate Burleson caught 3 passes for 30 yards and RB Jahvid Best had 2 catches for 28 yards and four rushes for 13 yards (41 total yards).
Lions Extend Lead 24-6 to go into the Half
With :10 left in the second quarter QB Shaun Hill drifted out of the pocket and hit TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 3-yard touchdown pass. The score capped off 12-play 80-yard drive that covered 1:27.
Pettigrew scored his first touchdown of the season.
Lions Open Third Quarter with TD
Lions QB Shaun Hill hit WR Nate Burleson on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 10:54 left in the third quarter to move the Lions into a 31-6 lead. The drive, that started after a punt (returned 17 yards by WR Stefan Logan) forced by a three-and-out by the Lions defense, covered 4 plays 41 yards in 1:53.
The touchdown was Burleson’s first as a Lion and it was his longest reception of the season. The reception was two yards past the line of scrimmage and Burleson raced the other 24 yards up the middle for the score.
The touchdown gave the Lions three-straight offensive possessions capped off by touchdowns, all in the air.
