Stafford, Johnson lead Lions’ 45-14 rout

Calvin Johnson got off to a quiet start, then began his annual Thanksgiving feast on opposing secondaries in earnest. “(Offensive coordinator) Jim Bob (Cooter) dialed up some plays for him and he got open and made some big-time catches”.

The embattled Philadelphia Eagles coach went in front of reporters Thursday following the Detroit Lions’ 45-14 win at Ford Field and said his team’s performance, one that saw the surging Lions score 38 consecutive points, was on the coaching staff. The Eagles started out looking determined and fired up, ready to plow through the Detroit Lions and get back on track. Some aren’t waiting. Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson spoke on the Eagles playing during the game, saying they “look like they weren’t prepared for this game”.

“Thanksgiving is a deadly feast”, added Araceli Rodriguez, who is another activist who took part in the demonstration. The defense gave up 430 yards, Calvin Johnson pummeling it with three touchdown catches, one against rookie corner Eric Rowe as the Eagles suffering their fourth setback in the last five games. He added another in the second quarter, and finished the game with 3-1/2 sacks and a forced fumble.

The Lions haven’t lost since a front-office shakeup after getting blown by Kansas City in London. “His growth and development, I mean, every single year you look at his body physically”.

“This is an unusual day”, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said. When guys do what they’re supposed to do, their technique is sound, then you see good things happen. “That’s what you’re seeing now”. Philadelphia’s now lost three straight games to teams that had losing records at the time, and the past two haven’t even been close.

Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez started in place of Sam Bradford, who was inactive with a shoulder injury.

Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly on where this loss ranks in terms of disappointments: “It’s right at the top. I don’t think anyone has any idea of how good he’s capable of being”. “We didn’t coach well today”.

“They have to decide what they’re going to do with the number of players that they have to play and still rush the passer”.

It’s hard to know where to start: yes, DeMarco Murray was unable to get anything going on the ground (14 carries for 30 yards is an embarrassment), but it’s just as much on an offensive line that was unable to fend off the Lions’ d-line. The Lions took a 9-0 lead into halftime on three field goals. Riddick had a 23-yard catch earlier in the drive. Coleman picked off Romo’s second pass of the game and took it back 36 yards for the score to send the Panthers on their way to becoming the 16th National Football League team to win the first 11 games.

Stafford completed a pass to Joique Bell out of the backfield for a 39-yard gain to the Philadelphia one-yard line to set up a one-yard rushing touchdown from Bell, who gave the Lions a 45-7 lead on a carry up the gut of the Eagles defense.

Davis, however, doesn’t get to make the decision on whether Kelly returns – and after the latest loss dropped the team to 4-7, there are plenty who feel he doesn’t deserve to be back.

Taking advantage of Johnson in one-on-one coverage, Stafford threw 4- and 3-yard TD passes to Johnson in the third quarter. “We deserve it now”, said Johnson, who switched from right to left tackle when Peters suffered an ankle injury in the first series.

Cornerback Nolan Carroll going down with a broken ankle certainly didn’t help anything. RB Ryan Mathews and TE Zach Ertz were inactive because of lingering concussion symptoms. For the second game LaAdrian Waddle is inactive. The Eagles were undefeated in their previous six Thanksgiving Day games….