Detroit Lions, D’Andre Swift run all over Jaguars, win big
Rookie D’Andre Swift had a big game on the ground for the Detroit Lions, helping them pick up their second win on Sunday.
Emerging from their bye week, the Detroit Lions needed a win in the worst way. Simplifying their game plan against a reeling opponent made a difference Sunday, and it could be an important factor if they want to get back into the NFC race.
Rookie running back D’Andre Swift notched a career-high 116 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns in the Lions’ 34-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in northern Florida. The Lions improved their record to 2-3 while the Jaguars slipped to 1-5.
The Lions totaled 180 rushing yards while limiting Jacksonville to 44 yards on the turf. Detroit entered the game surrendering over 170 rushing yards per game, third-worst in the NFL.
The Lions tallied a pair of one-yard rushing touchdowns on their first two drives, with Adrian Peterson and Swift reaching both the end zone. Swift also notched a 54-yard rush on his scoring drive, the best of his young career, and the Lions’ longest run in almost two years.
After recovering a fumble by Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew late in the first half, the Lions were unable to take advantage with more points and went to the locker room with a 17-3 lead.
However, tight-end T.J. Hockenson‘s short touchdown grab upped the advantage to 21-3 midway through the third frame. It was his third touchdown of the year, establishing a new career-high mark. It also gave quarterback Matthew Stafford his first-ever touchdown throw against Jacksonville, the lone NFL team against which he had not thrown one entering this week.
Minshew pulled Jacksonville within 14 points with a six-yard run for a score late in the third quarter, but Swift’s second touchdown minutes later put the game out of reach.
Stafford completed 19-31 of passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He was not sacked for the first time this season. Minshew finished 25/44 for 243 yards with one touchdown and a pick.
Wideout Kenny Golladay led the Lions with 105 receiving yards while Keelan Cole paced the Jaguars with 143 yards through the air.
Placekicker Matt Prater connected on 2-3 field goal attempts for the Lions, missing one kick from 57 yards. All three of his misses this season have come from 50-plus yards. Jon Brown, the fifth placekicker used by the Jaguars this season, went 1-2 on field goal attempts in his NFL debut.
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The 2-3 Detroit Lions visit the 1-5 Atlanta Falcons next Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.