The Detroit Lions sent the Seattle Seahawks spinning to their first defeat of the NFL season on Monday with an emphatic 42-29 victory in the Motor City.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff produced a scintillating performance, throwing two touchdowns and finishing with 292 passing yards from a perfect 18-of-18 completions.
Goff was also involved in one of the highlights of the game, a clever trick play that saw him collect a lofted pass from Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a third quarter touchdown.
Goff admitted afterwards he was unaware that he had thrown a pristine 18-of-18 passes.
“It’s good when the ball doesn’t hit the ground,” Goff told ESPN. “I wasn’t sure (during the game). I was trying to remember if I had any incomplete passes. I couldn’t quite tell, but I knew I had a chance.”
The Lions made a blistering start, surging into a 21-7 halftime lead thanks to touchdowns from running back David Montgomery and a brace of scores from Jahymr Gibbs.
But Seattle rallied in the third quarter to get within one score of the Lions.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith found A.J. Barner for a nine-yard completion to make it 21-14 before Goff and St. Brown combined for Detroit’s fourth touchdown of the night.
Another Seattle touchdown — Kenneth Walker rushing over from one yard out — gave the Seahawks hope with the score at 28-20.
Yet Detroit’s offense remained able to punch holes in Seattle’s defense at will, and Goff found Jameson Williams for a 70-yard touchdown that made it 35-20 heading into the final quarter.
Walker rushed for his second score of the night to keep Seattle’s hopes alive at 35-27, but another controlled Detroit touchdown drive effectively iced the game, with Goff marching the team 80 yards upfield before picking out St. Brown in the end zone.
The Lions improved to 3-1 with the win and remain second in the NFC North behind undefeated Minnesota (4-0). Seattle fell to 3-1 but continue to lead the NFC West.
In Monday’s other game, the Tennessee Titans overpowered the Miami Dolphins 31-12 to claim their first win of the season.
Nick Folk drilled five field goals while two close-range touchdowns from Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard sealed an emphatic win against an anemic Dolphins lineup.
The Dolphins, who are without injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, fell to 1-3 with the defeat at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Tagovailoa’s backup quarterback, Tyler Huntley, had a miserable night, throwing for just 96 yards and making just 14 completions.
