SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 18, 2011

Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes as the upstart Detroit Lions rolled to a 48-3 victory Sunday over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, who lost Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles for the season with a torn ACL.

Charles, who finished second in the NFL with 1,467 rushing yards in 2010, was carted off the field in the first quarter. He sustained the injury while planting his left leg as he went out of bounds before crashing into the Lions mascot.

Kansas City (0-2), which is the defending AFC West champion, matched its worst loss in franchise history. The Chiefs lost Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry for the season to a left knee injury in their 41-7 setback to Buffalo in Week 1, their worst season-opening loss.

The Lions (2-0) have won six straight, their longest streak since winning seven in a row in 1995. Calvin Johnson caught two touchdown passes for the second straight week and has 10 in his last nine home games.

The Chiefs have lost four straight – including a 30-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs – and have been outscored 150-27 during that span. They also had a five-game winning streak against the NFC snapped.

Stafford was 15 of 25 for 201 yards in the first half, including touchdown passes to Johnson (15 yards) and tight end Tony Scheffler (36) as the Lions raced to a 20-3 lead.

Stafford finished 23 of 39 for 294 yards before he was pulled midway through the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs committed six turnovers, including three interceptions and a fumble by quarterback Matt Cassel.