Kalif Raymond returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown and added a receiving score as the Detroit Lions overwhelmed the visiting Tennessee Titans 52-14 on Sunday.
Detroit running back David Montgomery ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the first half. Jared Goff tossed three scoring passes for the Lions (6-1), who maintained the best record in the NFC. Jahmyr Gibbs had a 70-yard scoring run as Detroit surpassed the 50-point mark for the first time since scoring 55 points in 1997. Gibbs finished with 127 rushing yards.
Tennessee’s Mason Rudolph passed for a touchdown and ran for another but was also intercepted twice. Calvin Ridley caught 10 passes for 143 yards for the Titans (1-6), who occupy the bottom of the AFC South.
Detroit led 35-14 at halftime.
The Lions took the lead less than five minutes into the contest. Trevor Nowaske picked off a Rudolph pass in Titans territory, giving Detroit the ball at the 23-yard line. Two plays later, Montgomery scored on the ground from 7 yards out.
Tennessee tied the game with 4:07 left in the first quarter when a four-play, 75-yard drive was capped by Rudolph’s 11-yard scoring run, his first career rushing touchdown.
It only took one play from scrimmage for Detroit to be back on top. Goff handed the ball to Gibbs, who cut to his left and raced down the left sideline for his 70-yard TD run.
The Titans came right back with a 70-yard drive, capped by Rudolph’s 5-yard scoring pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. That knotted the score at 14-all.
Once again, the Lions responded quickly. Khalil Dorsey’s 72-yard kick return set up Goff’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright.
Kerby Joseph’s interception led to the Lions’ next score, a 1-yard TD pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Detroit scored again with 2:18 left in the first half after a 64-yard punt return by Raymond. Goff pitched the ball to Montgomery, who fired a 3-yard scoring pass to Sam LaPorta.
Raymond returned Ryan Stonehouse’s punt 90 yards early in the second half for the Lions’ sixth touchdown of the game. A Ridley fumble led to the Lions’ next score, a 7-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Raymond.
–Field Level Media
