The Detroit Lions are off to a fast start that has them looking as if they could be the breakout team some expect this season.
Matthew Stafford threw two of his four touchdown passes to Calvin Johnson and Detroit routed the Kansas City Chiefs 48-3 Sunday, the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
Detroit broke its record set with a 44-0 win over the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
The Lions (2-0) led Kansas City 20-3 at halftime and 41-3 early in the fourth quarter after turning two fumbles into TDs.
The Chiefs (0-2) lost more than just the game, coming off a 34-point loss at home to Buffalo.
Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles was carted off the field midway through the first quarter with an injured left knee. Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki are already on injured reserve with knee injuries.
The Chiefs also set a team record, one they’re not proud of after winning 10 games and the AFC West last season.
Kansas City lost its first two games by a combined margin of 79 points, the worst scoring differential to start a season for the Chiefs since losing the first two games of the 2007 season by 27 points, according to STATS.
Matt Cassel was 15 of 22 for 133 yards with three interceptions and a fumble. Dwayne Bowe had five receptions for 101 yards, providing the only offensive spark the team had without its star running back, who ran for 1,467 yards last season.
Detroit, meanwhile, had plenty of options on offense.
Stafford was 23 of 39 for 294 yards and four TDs — one short of his career high — and avoided mistakes after throwing an interception on the opening drive.
Jahvid Best accounted for 123 yards and two scores. Johnson caught two touchdown passes for the second straight week and Nate Burleson had seven receptions for 93 yards.
Detroit’s Jason Hanson kicked two field goals in the first half, playing in his NFL-record 297th game with the same team.
Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews played 296 games with the Houston-Tennessee franchise and Darrell Green was in 295 with the Washington Redskins.