DETROIT – Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes and David Montgomery was the first of five players to score in the first half for the Detroit Lions, who beat the Tennessee Titans 52-14 on Sunday.

The NFC North-leading Lions (6-1) have the best record in the conference, having won five straight games and averaging over 40 points in their last four games.

Detroit had its highest-scoring game since a 55-point performance against Chicago in 1997, scoring at least 50 points for the fourth time in franchise history.

The Titans (1-6) lost for the second straight season and have already signaled this is a rebuilding year by trading veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins and starting linebacker Ernest Jones Jr.

Detroit has been on a roll lately by leaning on Goff, but had more points (42) than pass yards (28) early in the third quarter. He finished 12 of 15 for 85 yards.

The Lions didn't need Goff to be too productive because they made big plays in every phase and, like most games, pulled off a trick play – this time a touchdown pass from running back Montgomery took a pitch from Goff and found Sam LaPorta from three yards out gave the Lions a 35-14 lead and their highest-scoring half since 1970.

Jahmyr Gibbs had a 70-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Khalil Dorsey had a 72-yard kickoff return to set up Goff's 8-yard TD pass to Brock Wright early in the second.

Kalif Raymond's 90-yard kickoff return early in the third gave Detroit a 42-14 lead.

Mason Rudolph made an ill-advised pass on Tennessee's first drive and threw while defensive end Levi Onwuzurike hit it and linebacker Trevor Nowaske intercepted it.

The Titans extended their streak of throwing an interception in every game, and Detroit took advantage, taking the lead on Montgomery's 7-yard touchdown run. Rudolph later floated a pass that Kerby Joseph intercepted, setting up Goff's 1-yard TD pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Goff was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter with a 38-point lead to give second-year pro Hendon Hooker some experience. Gibbs had a season-high 127 yards rushing and a score on the longest rushing run of his career.

Rudolph helped receiver Calvin Ridley have his most productive game of the season, rushing for his first touchdown, an 11-yarder that fooled Detroit's defense and tied the game late in the first quarter.

Rudolph, starting for the injured Will Levis, finished 22 of 38 for 266 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine early in the second quarter and two interceptions. Ridley hit a career-high 10 receptions for a season-high 143 yards. Tony Pollard ran for a season-high 95 yards on 20 carries.

Injuries

Titans: Levis (shoulder) was out for the second straight week and CB L'Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) was also inactive.

Lions: LB Malcom Rodriguez (ankle) was sidelined in the first half. DE Josh Paschal (illness) was inactive.

Next

Titans: Host New England next Sunday.

Lions: Next Sunday at Green Bay.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl