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Orton, Bears light up punchless Lions

Oct 5, 2008 - 10:48 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Matt Millen is gone, but it was more of the same for the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Kyle Orton threw for a career-high 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Chicago Bears used another dominant defensive performance to rout Detroit, 34-7.

The Lions (0-4), who have been outscored, 147-66, allowed over 30 points for the fourth consecutive game. Detroit was outgained, 251-67, in the first half and did not earn a first down until its fourth possession early in the second quarter.

"Defensively from the start on the first drive, shutting them down (and) making them punt, really kind of got it started for the day," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "The defensive line put good pressure on the quarterbacks. They would shut down their run. Special teams played hard. It was the best we played as a team right now."

The Bears (3-2) held the Lions to 229 yards of total offense and forced a pair of turnovers, including a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown by Charles Tillman en route to a 31-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

"It's just frustrating to me to be an 0-4 ballclub with all this talent that we have on this football team," Lions wide receiver Roy Williams said. "I believe that the defense came out to play today. We didn't help them on the offensive side of the ball."

Millen, who had served as team president and CEO since 2001, was fired on September 24 by owner William Clay Ford. Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr., son of William Clay Ford, stated Monday he would fire Millen if he had the authority and the decision came down just two days later.

During Millen's six-plus seasons in Detroit, the Lions posted a league-worst 31-84 record, including six straight seasons with double-digit losses.

Orton completed 24-of-34 passes and totaled over 300 yards for the first time in his career. He connected on scoring throws to rookie running back Matt Forte and Devin Hester in the second quarter to open a 17-point halftime lead.

"We were certainly in a good rhythm there for the middle part of the game," Orton said. "We had them on their heels and we kept at it. It was a big win. Division game."

After Robbie Gould's 37-yard field goal on the opening possession, both teams traded three consecutive scoreless trips until Orton found Forte for a 9-yard touchdown strike with 5:27 left in the second quarter.

The fourth-year signal caller from Purdue then capped off a four-play, 80-yard drive with a 12-yard toss to Hester with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Orton was a perfect 4-for-4 on the drive.

"Kyle doesn't let a lot of things get to him," Hester said. "He's relaxed in the pocket. He wants to be the guy to take control of the game."

Chicago added to its lead on the opening drive of the third quarter. Marty Booker made a highlight-reel, one-handed catch to put the Bears at the 1-yard line, and Forte found the end zone from there to extend the lead to 24-0.

"We made some changes during the bye week and it didn't work out for us. We didn't make any plays to get us going early in the game," Lions quarterback John Kitna said. "The defense was playing good, getting us the football, and we just kept going three- and-out. When we actually had something going, we get a turnover. Those are the things we keep doing. It's a good defense but we can't self-destruct like that."

Kitna completed 8-of-16 for just 74 yards before being replaced in the third quarter by Dan Orlovsky.

"There's too many things to say one thing," Kitna said. "There's no particular area of our football team that we're playing really good at right now so there's a lot of things we can fix."

Orlovsky connected on 13-of-23 throws for 97 yards and an interception.

Rookie Kevin Smith scored on a 12-yard touchdown run, but combined with Rudi Johnson for just 54 yards on 13 carries.

"How many yards did we have rushing today? Anybody know? That's what I say it is," Williams said. "In my opinion, I believe it's the running game. If we can run the ball and keep our defense off the football field, run that clock, baby. Run that clock, keep our defense off the field, I think we have a good chance of winning. Run the football."