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Surging Lions throttle hapless Broncos

Nov 4, 2007 - 11:48 PM By Chuck Klonke PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Lions' defense was almost as productive as their high-powered offense.

Detroit's defense scored a pair of touchdowns Sunday and barely missed the franchise's first shutout in more than 10 years as the Lions rolled to a 44-7 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Defensive end Dewayne White returned a fumble for a touchdown and 340-pound defensive tackle Shaun Rogers scored on a 66-yard interception return.

"When you get points like that, you just want to get more and more," said White, who left the game after his touchdown with a pulled triceps. "You get greedy. It's fun when that happens."

White said he could have returned to the game if it were close.

The Lions also appeared primed for their first shutout since a 27-0 victory at Tampa Bay on September 29, 1996 - a span of 178 games. But Denver's Brandon Stokley hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception with 2:31 remaining to finally get the Broncos on the board.

"We wanted that shutout, I ain't going to lie to you," Lions linebacker Boss Bailey said. "We did want it, but winning's more important than anything."

The Lions (6-2) also got a good game from their kickers on the way to their third straight victory.

Jason Hanson kicked three field goals, including a season-high 53-yarder, for the third straight game. Punter Nick Harris dropped two consecutive punts inside the 10-yard line early in the second half, with the second setting up a touchdown on a three-yard fumble return by White.

It was the second time in Hanson's career that he has had three straight games with three or more field goals. He had a four-game streak in 1993, and Detroit won all four of those contests.

Hanson's second field goal moved him past former Lions kicker Eddie Murray into 11th place on the NFL career scoring list with 1,605 points.

"It's the old-man milestone," Hanson said. "It's funny to think about how many points that is, but the fun part is you're right in the thick of it in the big games and you're winning."

The Broncos lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler with a lower left leg contusion when he was sacked by Shaun Rogers with 13:05 left in the second quarter. Cutler, who competed 3-of-4 passes for 20 yards, was replaced by Patrick Ramsey.

Ramsey fumbled when sacked by Corey Smith at the Denver 1-yard line. White picked up the ball at the 3 and took it into the end zone for his second career touchdown.

"They played a great game," said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who played against his brother Boss for the first time in the NFL. "They took advantage of every mistake we made."

On Denver's next possession, the Broncos had a first down on the Detroit 5 after a 22-yard run by Travis Henry. But Detroit's defense held and took over at the 4.

On Detroit's first play, Jon Kitna hit tight end Sean McHugh for 46 yards. On the next play, Kitna fired a 49-yard scoring strike to Shaun McDonald to give Detroit a 30-0 lead with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Rogers, who had 2 1/2 sacks in the game, picked off Ramsey's third-down pass with 8:03 left in the game.

"I just hope that (Rogers) didn't pass out," Lions receiver Roy Williams said. "He's a big guy. He's a Pro Bowler, he's an All-Pro, he's the best defensive player in the NFL today. Can't block him, can't do anything to him."

The defense also set up Detroit's final touchdown. Linebacker Alex Lewis recovered tight end Tony Scheffler's fumble at the Denver 34 and four plays later, T.J. Duckett scored from the 3.

"Any time you have four turnovers and three of them turn into touchdowns, you're going to be playing behind the 8-ball," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "If you play at the level we did, you get embarrassed. We had too many mistakes."

Detroit led 16-0 at halftime on three field goals by Hanson, who opened the scoring with a 43-yard kick to cap a drive that started at the Lions' 11.

Detroit took advantage of Denver's struggles in stopping the run, as it ran the ball eight times in the drive while throwing only three passes.

After Denver's Jason Elam hit the left goalpost on a 48-yard field goal attempt with 3:27 left in the first quarter, the Lions had good field position for Hanson's second field goal, a 53-yarder early in the second quarter.

Detroit's only touchdown of the first half came on a 15-yard pass from Kitna to Mike Furrey with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. The Lions took advantage of a 15-yard face mask penalty against defensive end Elvis Dumervil to keep the drive alive.

Kitna was sacked on third down at the Denver 48, but the penalty gave Detroit a first down at the 33. Kitna then completed passes of 10 yards to Calvin Johnson and 11 yards to Furrey before the touchdown pass.

Hanson capped the first-half scoring with a 38-yard field goal with 35 seconds remaining. In the 60-yard drive, Kitna completed 6-of-8 passes, including 17-yard completions to Johnson and Roy Williams.

Kitna finished 16-of-31 for 252 yards and two touchdowns while Kevin Jones rushed for 71 yards for the Lions, who scored on all four of their first-half possessions.

After the game, Kitna talked about his statement before the season that the Lions would win 10 games.

"It wasn't a prediction," Kitna said. "It was a statement that we would be disappointed if we didn't win 10 games, and I still feel that way."

Denver (3-5) got into Lions territory only once in the first half, but came away empty on Elam's missed field goal.

"The Lions played well," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly, a former Lion, said. "We got our butts kicked, and we're not a good football team right now."