Patriots' defense helps Bailey Zappe to shut out victory

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Rookie Bailey Zappe threw a touchdown pass in his first career start, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a career-high 161 yards, and the New England Patriots overwhelmed the Detroit Lions 29-0 on Sunday.

Kyle Dugger returned a fumble 59 yards for a touchdown for the Patriots as the defense and ground game gave Zappe plenty of support. The rookie completed 17 of 21 passes for 188 yards with Mac Jones out for the second straight week with an ankle injury and backup Brian Hoyer on injured reserve following a concussion.

Zappe had miscues, including a fumble after a botched exchange with Stevenson. He also had a pass intercepted when his slant to Nelson Agholor was mishandled, tipped in the air and picked off by De’Shon Elliott.

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Matt Judon had a pair of sacks for New England (2-3), which held Detroit’s top-ranked offense without a touchdown for the first time this season. The Lions (1-4) were shut out for the first time since 2020.

Stevenson carried the ball 25 times and had a 49-yard run to set up New England’s second field goal of the game. Jakobi Meyers had seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Jared Goff was 19 of 35 for 229 yards with an interception and a fumble.

Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown returned for Detroit after sitting out last week with an ankle injury. But New England’s defense took advantage of a team that was still without running back D’Andre Swift and receiver D.J. Chark, stopping the Lions six times on fourth down.

Detroit’s absences were particularly apparent when it drove deep into Patriots territory late in the second quarter.

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New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) winds up to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass.  (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Facing third-and-2 on the Patriots 25, Craig Reynolds ran for a loss of 7 yards. The Lions went for it on fourth down, but Judon sacked and stripped Goff. Dugger scooped up the ball and returned it for the score.

Rookie defensive back Jack Jones also had an interception in the end zone to help set up one of three Patriots’ field goals in the first half as they took a 16-0 lead into the break.

Detroit defensive back Saivion Smith was carted off the field following a collision early in the first quarter.

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, left, sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, center, during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

He remained on the field, lying face down on his side following the Patriots’ second offensive play of the game.

Trainers immediately called for a stretcher. Smith was on the field for several minutes as an ambulance was driven onto the field. The entire Lions bench emptied and Smith's teammates circled him before he was loaded and driven off.

The Lions announced he had been taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a neck injury.

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INJURIES

Lions: CB Will Harris left in the first half with a groin injury. ... Elliott left in the second half with cramps. ... S Ifeatu Melifonwu left with an ankle injury.

Patriots: RB Damien Harris left in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return. ... Agholor was sidelined with a hamstring injury in the second half. ... CB Jonathan Jones left with an ankle injury.

New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass.  (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

UP NEXT

Lions: Bye next week. At Dallas on Oct. 23.

Patriots: At Cleveland next Sunday.