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Contending Detroit (6-2) Rips Denver

The Associated Press

Published: November 5, 2007

DETROIT - Jon Kitna threw two touchdown passes and Detroit scored twice on defense, leading to a 44-7 rout against Denver on Sunday.

The Lions (6-2) have established themselves as a legitimate contender in the NFC and perhaps the surprise team in the entire league at the midway point of their season. They already have twice as many wins as last year and have matched the most victories in any season under team president Matt Millen. Detroit, which has won three straight, more than doubled its largest margin of victory since Millen took over in 2001.

Denver (3-5) has its worst record since its last losing season in 1999, and the banged-up team took more hits when quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Travis Henry were sidelined with injuries.

Cutler left the game with a lower leg injury in the second quarter and was replaced by Patrick Ramsey. Henry appeared to hurt his left leg in the fourth period, and Selvin Young finished the game in the backfield.

It became a blowout in the third when defensive end Dewayne White picked up fumble and returned it for a TD and Shaun McDonald was untouched on a 49-yard catch.

Denver	0	0	0	7	-	7
Detroit	3	13	14	14	-	44

First Quarter

Det-FG Hanson 43, 7:06.

Second Quarter

Det-FG Hanson 53, 14:09.

Det-Furrey 15 pass from Kitna (Hanson kick), 4:59.

Det-FG Hanson 38, :35.

Third Quarter

Det-White 3 fumble return (Hanson kick), 11:07.

Det-McDonald 49 pass from Kitna (Hanson kick), 6:35.

Fourth Quarter

Det-Rogers 66 interception return (Hanson kick), 8:03.

Det-Duckett 3 run (Hanson kick), 5:15.

Den-Stokley 2 pass from Ramsey (Elam kick), 2:31.

A-60,783

	Den	Det
First downs	16	20
Total Net Yards	303	376
Rushes-yards	16-47	29-130
Passing	256	246
Punt Returns	1-4	1-0
Kickoff Returns	6-157	2-42
Interceptions Ret.	0-0	1-66
Comp-Att-Int	32-50-1	16-31-0
Sacked-Yards Lost	5-26	1-6
Punts	5-45.0	3-48.0
Fumbles-Lost	4-3	3-1
Penalties-Yards	12-84	2-32
Time of Possession	31:32	28:28

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Denver, Henry 9-31, Young 6-12, Ramsey 1-4. Detroit, Jones 17-71, Duckett 5-48, Cason 2-8, McDonald 1-6, Kitna 1-5, Bradley 1-1, O'Sullivan 1-(-1), R.Williams 1-(-8).

PASSING-Denver, Ramsey 29-46-1-262, Cutler 3-4-0-20. Detroit, Kitna 16-31-0-252.

RECEIVING-Denver, Marshall 9-96, Scheffler 6-46, Stokley 4-32, Graham 3-42, Martinez 3-27, Young 2-15, Henry 2-13, Clark 2-9, Sapp 1-2. Detroit, McDonald 5-78, Johnson 3-47, R.Williams 3-44, Furrey 3-32, McHugh 1-46, Jones 1-5.

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