New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the rush by Detroit Lions defensive end Jason Jones (91) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass.Steven Senne/The Associated Press
The New England Patriots showed off their passing game one week after a brilliant rushing performance.
The outcome was the same: a blowout win over a top team.
Throw in a defence that held the Detroit Lions without a touchdown and two outstanding special-teams plays, and the team with the AFC's best record rolled over the team with the NFL's stingiest defence, 34-9 on Sunday, for their seventh straight win.
"Everyone is linked together," quarterback Tom Brady said, "so we all feed off each other – offence, defence, special teams."
Brady threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns exactly 14 years after his pro debut in another 34-9 game against the Lions. In that Thanksgiving meeting, the rookie was a late-game replacement for Drew Bledsoe in Detroit's win.
On Sunday, LeGarrette Blount rushed for 78 yards and two short scores and the Patriots improved to 44-3 in their last 47 regular-season home games.
The Patriots (9-2) have such depth that Jonas Gray didn't even play one week after rushing 37 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He was sent away from Friday's practice for reporting late, just one day after Blount signed. Blount was cut by Pittsburgh last Tuesday, the day after he walked to the locker room as the Steelers were lining up for the last play.
Blount rushed for 772 yards for the Patriots last season, but didn't re-sign.
"He's never been a problem for us," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "It was a good welcome back for him today."
The Patriots led 24-6 at halftime as Brady repeatedly found wide-open receivers.
"We blew a lot of coverage," Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy said. "They sped up the tempo a bit and I think we lost our composure."
The Patriots routed a division leader for the third straight week, following wins over Denver and Indianapolis. They visit Green Bay, which began the day tied with Detroit for the NFC North lead, next Sunday.
In their past five games, the Lions (7-4) have led for 45 minutes, 53 seconds, been tied for 44 minutes, 17 seconds and trailed for 209 minutes, 50 seconds, according to STATS.
For the second straight week, they lost to a conference leader, having fallen to Arizona 14-6 a week earlier. What does that say about the Lions?
"I think we'll figure that out at the end of the year," quarterback Matthew Stafford said.
But they didn't score a touchdown in either game.
"I am not concerned," Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson said. "We still have time to get things going."
The Lions bore little resemblance to the team that had allowed the fewest points in the NFL. They had given up just 68.6 yards rushing per game, so Brady threw frequently – and quickly to avoid the rush.
He finished with 38 completions in 53 attempts with one interception, with Julian Edelman catching 11 passes for the highest-scoring team in the NFL.
"Ever since I've been here, the coach has put it in my ears that football season starts after Thanksgiving," Edelman said.
The Patriots have had quite a head start.
The Lions managed just three field goals by Matt Prater as Stafford completed 18 of 46 passes for 264 yards and one interception while the Patriots shut down his two star receivers. Golden Tate had just four catches after entering the game third in the NFL with 68. Johnson was held to four receptions for 58 yards.
"The coaches believe in us at the cornerback spot, man, and set up the perfect matchups for us," Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner said.