Lions 45, Cardinals 21: Detroit's offense erupts after a slow start in Arizona
Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs led a 31-point run as Detroit scored on seven straight drives in Glendale.
The Detroit Lions beat the Arizona Cardinals 45-21 in Glendale on Sunday, answering a shaky start to the season with what the Associated Press called their best game of the year. Detroit moved to 3-2; Arizona fell to 1-4.
From 7-0 down to a rout
Arizona led early after Jacoby Brissett threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Teagan Quitoriano. Detroit then scored 31 straight points, touchdowns on three consecutive drives and a field goal in the second quarter among them, to lead 24-7 at halftime. Jahmyr Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run and Sam LaPorta added a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Over the game, Detroit scored on seven consecutive drives, and three of its touchdowns came on fourth down.
The second half followed the same pattern. Jared Goff found Jameson Williams for a 39-yard score in the third quarter, with Quitoriano answering from 13 yards for Arizona. In the fourth, Gibbs ran in from 3 yards, Goff scored on a 1-yard run, and Trey McBride caught a 9-yard touchdown late.
Individual numbers
Goff was 19 of 30 for 279 yards and three touchdown passes, plus the rushing score. Gibbs rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns; AP reports he became the first player to score 58 touchdowns before his 25th birthday, passing Barry Sanders at 57. Williams had his first multi-touchdown receiving game, with scores of 8 and 39 yards. Defensively, Roger McCreary had six passes defended and D.J. Wonnum had two sacks, a lift for a unit that had been allowing 31.8 points per game, 31st in the NFL.
For Arizona, Brissett was 29 of 47 for 292 yards and three touchdowns, with an interception that ended the second quarter. The Cardinals' offense had five straight three-and-out drives in the first half, totaling 12 yards.
Off-field news and injuries
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded to the Houston Texans during the first quarter, AP reports; he was among Arizona's inactives. Detroit lost linebacker Devin White to a forearm injury, and coach Dan Campbell said he will likely need surgery and miss extended time. Cardinals safety Wydett Williams Jr. left with a concussion.
What it means
Detroit showed it could recover from a slow start on both sides of the ball, and plays Green Bay at home on Oct. 25. Arizona has lost nine straight home games, and its defense has allowed 37 points per game during a four-game losing streak. Coach Mike LaFleur said afterward that a blowout like this "starts with coaching." The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.