For the second time in three weeks, the Detroit Lions administered the type of butt-kicking they’ve been on the wrong end of too many times in recent years.
Jared Goff threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns and D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams ran for scores as the Lions beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 40-14 at Ford Field.
The Lions scored on their first eight offensive possessions, a streak that came to an end only with two kneel-down snaps to end the game, and scored their most lopsided win since a 31-0 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 of the 2018 season.
The Lions have won four of their past five games, with their only blemish since Halloween coming in last week’s Thanksgiving loss to the Buffalo Bills, when the Bills kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. In Week 11, they dominated the New York Giants, 31-18.
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At 5-7, the Lions are firmly in the wild card hunt with five games to play. They host the Minnesota Vikings next week, visit the New York Jets in Week 15, then close the season with games against three teams with losing records, the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Packers.
The Vikings can clinch at least a share of the division title with a win Sunday over the Jets.
The Lions got off to a hot start Sunday, forcing a Travis Etienne fumble on the second play from scrimmage and built leads of 14-3 at the end of the first quarter and 23-6 at halftime.
Williams opened the scoring for the Lions with his 14th touchdown run of the season, surpassing his rushing touchdown total (13) from the first five seasons of his career.
Goff threw touchdown passes of 10 and 4 yards to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Swift added a 1-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the second half and Michael Badgley made all four of his field goal attempts for the Lions.
The Lions have scored 25 or more points in four straight games for the first time since 2012, and have six 30-point offensive outputs this season, the second most in franchise history behind only the 2011 Lions (seven).
Goff finished 31 of 41 passing, St. Brown had 11 catches for 114 yards and Swift, in his most extensive action since September, ran for 62 yards on 14 carries and added 41 yards receiving for the Lions.
Rookie receiver Jameson Williams, the No. 12 pick of the draft, made his NFL debut Sunday. He played six offensive snaps and did not catch the only pass thrown his way.
Trevor Lawrence was 17 of 31 passing for 179 yards with one touchdown and Christian Kirk had six catches for 104 yards for the Jaguars, who fell to 4-8 with their second loss in three weeks.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.