Cruel Lions can’t even reach all cylinders in 52-14 win

In 1956, the last time the Lions were 6-1, Elvis Presley had the nation’s top two singles on the Billboard charts: Heartbreak Hotel and Don’t be Cruel.

But that’s just what the Lions were to the Titans (1-6) in Sunday’s cruel, 52-14 win. So cruel, in fact, that quarterback Jared Goff said the Detroit offense couldn’t hit on all cylinders.

“Oh, there’s another gear,” Goff told FOX’s Laura Okmin on the field after the game. “To be honest, on offense, we never felt like we were able to get into a rhythm, really because we didn’t have enough plays, maybe 30-40 plays before the starters came out.”

Those starters came out after 41 plays, with just under 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Incredibly, Goff was only 12 of 15 for 85 yards and three touchdowns, despite Detroit’s 52 points and six offensive touchdowns. The Lions used a cruel combination of takeaways and special-teams assaults to set up layups for Goff and the offense.

“We were getting some short fields there on offense,” Goff said, “and our special teams and defense were kicking tail. It was a lot of fun today. I’ve never really experienced something like that, starting with the ball in the red zone and in plus territory so often, and we were able to punch it in.”

Punch it in five times, to be exact. Detroit was 5-for-5 on red-zone possessions, including short Goff touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and Brock Wright. What’s more, running back David Montgomery put the Lions on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run, then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta, giving Detroit a 35-14 lead just before halftime. As of Sunday afternoon, the NFL’s only non-quarterbacks to throw touchdown passes this season are Montgomery and St. Brown.

And when the Lions didn’t set up their offense deep in Titans territory, Jahmyr Gibbs found the end zone, scoring on a 70-yard touchdown to break an early 7-7 tie late in the first quarter. Plus, Raymond actually scored twice in the third quarter, including a 90-yard punt return.

But midway through the second quarter, Detroit led by only seven points, 21-14, thanks to Calvin Ridley – who had 26- and 47-yard receptions to set up, respectively, each of the Titans’ first two touchdowns.

That’s when Detroit’s defense clamped down, forcing Tennessee into five punts, three turnovers and a turnover on downs as the Lions pitched a shutout over the game’s final 44 minutes.

Detroit, which has reached 30 points in four straight games, now needs to prepare for its annual visit to Lambeau Field and a battle for first place in the league’s best division. The Packers (6-2), who won on a walkoff field goal at Jacksonville and stand only a half game behind the Lions, could be without quarterback Jordan Love. The Green Bay starter left with a groin injury Sunday and did not return.

Tennessee, meanwhile, will need to avoid the kneecap-bitten misery endured by Lions opponents the week after they play Detroit. The Titans host New England (2-6).