DETROIT – Two Detroit Lions players responded to anyone who has a problem with the team’s tendency to run up the score and embarrass their opponents.
The Lions were at it again Sunday against the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars, eviscerating them 52-6 and putting up 645 yards and 38 first downs in the process.
With a 35-6 lead in the third quarter, Jared Goff and the Lions continued to push the ball downfield, and the starters even remained in the game to finish off a seventh-straight touchdown drive to go up 49-6 in the fourth quarter.
This is the third time the Lions have run up the score on an opponent. It began in mid-October, when the Lions continued to run trick play passes to offensive linemen despite dismantling the Cowboys, 47-9.
Most people sympathized with the Lions in that game, because of the controversial way they lost in Dallas last season. Except for Chris Christie.
Then, in Week 8, the Lions blew out the awful Titans 52-14, but it was hard to blame them for that one, either. The Lions only gained 225 total yards and 17 first downs. It wasn’t their fault the Titans turned the ball over four times and kept giving Detroit short fields.
But this one -- yeah, the Lions clearly wanted to demoralize the Jags. That was pretty obvious. The game was over at halftime, and it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Goff and some other starters come out after a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter made it 35-6.
Not only did the starters stay in the game -- they kept their foot on the gas. Right down to a Jake Bates field goal that put the Lions over 50 points for the second time this season.
Cornerback Carlton Davis III was asked after the game about the lopsided nature of these wins.
“If people have got problems with what we’re doing or complaining about it, they can just come out here and play better football,” Davis said. “That’s the only thing. That’s the only problem. That’s the only fix to this problem.
“Just come out here, and we’re welcoming it, too. We don’t shy away from anything. We’re going at you whether you want to, whether you’re good or bad. We’re going at you the same way every week.”
He was asked about Xavier McKinney’s comments a few weeks ago before the Lions beat the Packers in Lambeau Field. McKinney said he wasn’t impressed with how the Lions try to “embarrass” teams.
“I guess you can laugh at it, but at the same time, it’s serious business,” Davis said. “It’s not as if we’re taking it for a joke. This is serious business. When you come in our stadium, when you know we’re coming out to play you guys, take it serious, because we’re bringing everything we’ve got, so that’s the message.”
Fellow defensive back Kerby Joseph, who picked off his seventh pass of the year on Sunday, echoed a similar mindset.
“If you’re really not coming ready to play, like, we’re going to give you the (business), for sure,“ Joseph said. ”We’re just playing football, and if you’re not coming with it to win, then you’re going to get your a-- whooped, like, for real."
