DETROIT (AP) — Matt Patricia weaved his way through a crowd to hug the man who helped him live a dream.Patricia beat mentor Bill Belichick Travis Fulgham Jersey 2019 , seemingly making all the right moves to help the Detroit Lions defeat the New England Patriots 26-10 Sunday night.“I’m sure it meant a lot, his first win as a head coach,” Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Probably no sweeter than to do it against your old team.“We needed this one.”The Lions (1-2) suddenly looked like a team with a plan on offense and defense under their first-year coach, and former New England assistant. They opened the season with a 31-point loss to the New York Jets at home and fell short in a comeback at San Francisco.Patricia was given a game ball by his players, but refused to relish in the moment.“I’m just happy for the guys,” he said. “They’re the ones who deserve it,” he said.The Patriots (1-2) have had weaknesses exposed on both sides of the ball, losing two of their first three games for the first time since 2012.And, Belichick was in no mood to reflect on his former defensive coordinator earning his first win.“My job is my football team,” said Belichick, who is 14-9 against former assistants. “That’s what I’m worried about. That’s what I’m concerned about.”Patricia and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also hugged briefly at midfield after the game and other New England players made a point of connecting with their former coach.Detroit was in control from the start, creating holes for rookie running back Kerryon Johnson and giving Matthew Stafford time to pass.Johnson had 101 yards rushing on 16 carries, becoming the first player to reach the mark for the Lions since Reggie Bush ran for 117 yards against Green Bay on Nov. 28, 2013. Detroit’s 70-game stretch without a 100-yard rusher was the longest since the NFL-AFL merger.“We knew we needed to run the ball and take some of the pressure off Stafford and the receivers if we wanted to win this game Taylor Decker Jersey ,” Johnson said. “The offensive line was hitting holes and we were attacking. That’s the most physical game they’ve played all year, and we were able to take advantage of it.”Brady pulled the Patriots within three points on a 10-yard TD pass to James White early in the third.Detroit refused to let the five-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback get any closer.Stafford responded with a 33-yard TD pass, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took more than 6 minutes off the clock.Darius Slay picked off Brady’s pass at the Detroit 15 midway through the fourth quarter, helping the Lions seal the win.While Patricia and his players downplayed how much he could help them prepare for a team he helped coach the previous 14 years, Slay said it was a factor.“He knows everything about that team and he made sure we knew it as well,” Slay said.THE QBSStafford was 27 of 36 for 262 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Brady was 12 of 24 for 113 yards with a touchdown and an interception.THAT’S COACHINGDetroit ran the play clock down often in the second half, seemingly choosing to shorten the game and keep Brady off the field.“That was a key part of the game,” Patricia said. “You certainly don’t want to give the ball back to them.”Fans booed at Ford Field when Patricia chose to kick a 38-yard field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1.“Any points against a team like that is going to be a good thing,” Stafford said. “We had a positive drive and you would hate to come away from it with no points.”Patricia also won a challenge , getting a call overturned that gave Stafford a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Detroit ahead 10-0.ALMOST A LIONNew England tight end Rob Gronkowski confirmed an ESPN report in which sources said he threatened to retire instead of being traded to Detroit in the offseason.“Yeah, it happened,” Gronkowski said. “Brady’s my quarterback. That’s all. I’m not going anywhere without Brady.”INJURY REPORTPatriots: WR Josh Gordon (hamstring) was inactive, delaying his New England debut Graham Glasgow Jersey , after warming up with teammates. S Patrick Chung and DE Trey Flowers were inactive because of concussions. RB Rex Burkhead left the game in the second half with a neck injury.Lions: DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) was inactive.UP NEXTPatriots: Hosts the AFC-East leading Miami Dolphins (3-0).Lions: Play at Dallas (1-2). Ndamukong Suh is looking forward to facing the Detroit Lions for the first time, giving him a chance to visit with friends and to dine at some new restaurants they have told him about.“I love the city of Detroit,” said Suh, who spent the first five years of his career with the Lions. “I spend my time in the offseason there. Got great people that I communicate with and see. Great business town. There’s a lot of people that I consider mentors that are there.”While Suh was quick to share his genuine affection for the Motor City, he chuckled when asked for his feelings about the franchise.“I’ll refrain from my comments about the organization,” he said.Detroit drafted Suh second overall eight years ago and gave him a $68 million deal with $40 million guaranteed , hoping he would lead the defense while Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson starred on offense.Suh was the only rookie to earn All-Pro honors in 2010 and he was an All-Pro two more times with the Lions. He helped Detroit end an 11-year postseason drought in 2011 and reach the playoffs again in 2014.Miami, though, was willing to give Suh much more than the Lions were in 2015. The Dolphins signed him to a six-year, $114 million deal with $60 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time.Suh’s stay in Miami didn’t last long. He was cut earlier this year with three years left on his contract, freeing him up to sign a $14 million, one-year deal with the Rams to play alongside star defensive tackle Aaron Donald.Suh has fit in well, playing inside and on the edge for defensive coordinator Wade Philips.“I pride myself on being able to play any position on the defensive line Color Rush Travis Fulgham Jersey ,” said Suh, who has 34 tackles and 3陆 sacks. “And, if I need to go play linebacker, I’m happy to do so. We’re winning games, so that’s most important to me.”The 31-year-old Suh has not won a division title, but that can change as soon as Sunday.Los Angeles (10-1) can clinch the NFC West championship with a win over the slumping Lions (4-7) at Ford Field.Here’s some things to watch:NEVER SATISFIEDWhile Suh enjoys his homecoming of sorts, Donald will remind the Lions what they’re missing. Detroit drafted tight end Eric Ebron No. 10 overall in 2014, passing on a chance to take Donald. The Rams selected Donald No. 13 overall and he has become one of the league’s best players. Donald has a NFL- and career-high 14陆 sacks, surpassing the 11 he had last season when he was the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year.“The best part about Aaron is the first thing he’ll say is that he can always improve,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.RUN AROUNDDetroit’s defense has had a dramatic turnaround against the run, becoming the league’s only team to hold three straight opponents to fewer than 60 yards rushing this season.After ranking last in rushing defense earlier this year, the Lions are No. 14 and Damon “Snacks” Harrison seems to have a lot to do with the turnaround. Detroit acquired Harrison from the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick.“The problem is that as the season goes on, it becomes more and more difficult to stop the run,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said.“We obviously have another huge problem this week with the run game with the Rams. Todd Gurley is one of the best backs in the league.”READY TO ROLLGurley has 1 Cheap Travis Fulgham Jersey ,043 yards rushing, trailing only Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott. He had a touchdown in 13 consecutive games, setting a franchise record, before not scoring Nov. 19 during the Rams’ 54-51 win over Kansas City. He is expected to be healthy after having a minor ankle injury early against the Chiefs.SAY WHAT?Lions receiver Bruce Ellington gave a startling answer when asked if his hamstring was healthy.“I don’t know if it’s fully recovered because they removed it,” he said. “I don’t have it anymore.”Ellington had a severe injury that kept him out for all of 2016 and limited him earlier this season in Houston. Ellington said he had one of his hamstring muscles removed two years ago, following a procedure recommended by former Texans receiver Andre Johnson .“They say if you keep it, it’s going to keep scarring up,” Ellington recalled doctors telling him.The 5-foot-9 Ellington said he’s explosive enough to dunk a basketball and to do his job with the Lions, who signed him after they traded Golden Tate to Philadelphia. He has ended up playing an even larger role because Marvin Jones is on injured reserve. Ellington has matched his career high with six catches in each of his two games in Detroit.HELP ON THE WAYDetroit is preparing to play against veteran cornerback Aqib Talib , who has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury.“They have great players on the defense, and are getting another great player back this week,” Patricia said.
