Have the Detroit Lions ever beaten the New York Jets on the road?

The Detroit Lions don’t make trips to New York very often, but have they ever beaten the Jets on the road?

In a scheduling quirk, the Detroit Lions will play their second game this season at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. They of course went there and beat the New York Giants rather handly (31-18) in Week 11, and this week the New York Jets will be the hosts.

It was hard to envision this game having any playoff implications when the season started, but the 6-7 Lions and the 7-6 Jets are in the thick of the playoff race in their respective conferences and need wins down the stretch.

The last time the Lions played the Jets was certainly a memorable one for Lions’ fans. Matt Patricia’s first game as Lions’ head coach was the first of the Monday night doubleheader in Week 1 of the 2018 season. Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. But it was all downhill from there, as Matthew Stafford threw four interceptions, the Jets scored 31 points in the third quarter and won 48-17.

But have the Lions ever beaten the Jets on the road?

Have the Detroit Lions ever beaten the New York Jets on the road?

The Lions and Jets have played each other 14 times all-time, each winning seven. The Lions last road trip to play the Jets, on schedule with playing teams in the opposite conference based on the last matchup four years ago being in Detroit was Week 4 of the 2014 season.

In Jim Caldwell’s first season as head coach, the Lions went home with a 24-17 win.

Stafford threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns in the game, highlighted by Golden Tate’s eight catches for 116 yards and a 59-touchdown to Jeremy Ross. Stafford’s other touchdown through the air went to Eric Ebron, and the Lions’ signal caller added a rushing touchdown. Reggie Bush (12 carries for 46 yards) and Joique Bell (eight carries for 32 yards) led the Lions ground game. Calvin Johnson was held to just two catches for 12 yards.

In an otherwise very evenly matched game across the board, the Lions won the turnover battle 2-0. Doing the same this Sunday will go a long way toward leaving MetLife Stadium with a victory again.