Jacksonville Jaguars vs Detroit Lions Box Score on Nov 20, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 20, 2016

DETROIT -- Andre Roberts returned a punt 55-yards for a touchdown and Rafael Bush had a 39-yard interception return for another score as the Detroit Lions downed the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-19 on Sunday at Ford Field.

Eric Ebron scored on a 1-yard run for Detroit (6-4), which entered the game in a first-place tie in the NFC North with Minnesota.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford had 278 passing yards for the Lions, who face the Vikings in their annual Thanksgiving Day game, while Theo Riddick caught eight passes for 70 yards.

Blake Bortles threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns but was also intercepted twice as the Jaguars fell to 2-8.

Detroit moved ahead in the opening minute of the second half on Bortles' 12th intercepted pass this season. Cornerback Nevin Lawson deflected the pass intended for Marqise Lee into the hands of Bush, who slithered down the sideline to give the Lions a 16-9 lead.

Jason Myers' 52-yard field goal cut Detroit's lead to four. The Jaguars moved ahead later in the third when Lee, who snared a 29-yard pass moments earlier, managed to stay inbounds on a 3-yard touchdown grab.

Detroit responded early in the fourth quarter. Ebron caught a 61-yard pass from Stafford on a 3rd-and-long situation. On 2nd-and-goal, the tight end took a handoff while in motion and scored from one yard out, giving the Lions a 23-19 lead.

Detroit was able to kill some clock when Jaguars defensive lineman Sen'Derrick Marks committed an encroachment penalty on a fourth-down play from the Jacksonville 46. Matt Prater kicked a 43-yard field goal with 22 seconds to stretch the lead to seven points.

The teams were tied at 9-all at halftime.

Detroit's second fumble of the season set up Jacksonville's first score. Roberts coughed the ball up late in the first quarter on a punt return and Ben Koyack recovered at the Detroit 11. The Jags offense couldn't make any headway and had to settle for Myers' 27-yard field goal.

Roberts atoned for the error with his second punt return for a touchdown this season. He caught Brad Nortman's punt at his own 45, then cut to his right and raced into the end zone with 11:13 remaining in the half. Prater's point-after attempt sailed wide.

Jacksonville regained the lead when Bortles squeezed a 3-yard pass to Allen Robinson between defenders with 2:45 left in the half. Myers missed the extra point try, leaving the score at 9-6.

Prater's 27-yard field goal in the final minute tied it.

NOTES: Lions DT Tyrunn Walker was inactive despite making eight starts this season. LB DeAndre Levy (knee) and RB Justin Forsett (healthy scratch) were also inactive. LB Dan Skuta (back) and DE Chris Smith (eye) were among the players who didn't suit up for the Jaguars. ... Jacksonville CB Aaron Colvin exited in the first quarter with a concussion. ... The teams had only five previous meetings, with Jacksonville holding a 3-2 edge. Detroit won the last matchup, 31-14, on Nov. 4, 2012. ... Detroit's Matthew Stafford was playing his 103th career game with the franchise, surpassing Eric Hipple and Greg Landry for the most appearances by a Lions QB. ... Jacksonville has a road game against Buffalo next Sunday.