Brady, Pats feast on Lions in Turkey Day clash

DETROIT (AP) —  Say this about the Lions, they are consistent.

For the second time in as many weeks and third time this month, the Lions blew a second-half lead in an avalanche of turnovers, undisciplined penalties and defensive breakdowns.

Tom Brady threw for 341 yards and a season-high four touchdowns as the Patriots handed the Lions their seventh straight Thanksgiving loss, 45-24, at Ford Field on Thursday.

All four of Brady’s touchdown passes came in the second half as the Patriots rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit to improve to an NFL-best 9-2.

Wes Welker, Deion Branch and BenJarvus Green-Ellis took turns victimizing cornerback Alphonso Smith in the win.

Green-Ellis ran over Smith near the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run late in the first half. Welker beat him for a 2-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, after a Shaun Hill interception.

And after the Lions’ regained a 24-17 lead, Branch ran
past Smith for a 79-yard score.

Branch beat Smith, who leads the Lions with five interceptions, again with a double move on the second play of the fourth quarter to give the Patriots the lead for good.

Tempers flared late after the Patriots tacked on two more fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Lions drew three personal fouls — only two were enforced — after Green Ellis’ second touchdown run, allowing the Patriots to kick off from the Detroit 40-yard
line.

Green-Ellis finished with 12 carries for 59 yards for the Patriots, and Branch added 113 yards receiving.

Hill was 27 of 46 passing for 285 yards, but threw two interceptions for the Lions, who fell to 2-9 and will finish with a sub-.500 record for the 10th straight year.

Calvin Johnson and Maurice Morris scored two touchdowns each for the Lions.