Jason Hanson Sets NFL Record In Detroit's Week 2 Win Over Kansas City

What a Sunday it was for the Detroit Lions and their fans. Detroit improved to 2-0 on the young 2011 season by thumping the Kansas City Chiefs, 48-3, in front of a raucous crowd at Ford Field. There’s reasons abound to think that Detroit is finally ready to break through and compete for a playoff berth this year after so many seasons of futility. Of course, there’s tons of football still to be played. With the injury history of quarterback Matthew Stafford, it’s just too early to start thinking too far down the road if you’re a Lions fan.

Here’s one thing though that you can take to the bank when projecting how the rest of the 2011 season will go for Jim Schwartz’s up-and-coming squad: Jason Hanson will continue to be his usual, reliable self.

On Sunday, Hanson set an NFL record by playing his 297th game with Detroit, the most by any player with a single team in league history. Hanson, who scored 12 points in Sunday’s win (6 PATs, 2 FGs), surpassed Bruce Matthews of the Houston Oilers to stake claim to the notable record. It’s been quite a remarkable ride for Hanson in Motown since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 1992 Draft.

With his 12 points in the Week 2 win, Hanson also became just the 7th player in NFL history to score 1,900 points. He’s a long way from Morton Anderson’s career record of 2,554 points, but he’s within striking distance of Jason Elam (1,983) this season.

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Lions Vs. Chiefs Score: Detroit Rolls Over Kansas City In Impressive Win

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t do themselves any favors by turning the ball over six times against Detroit. The Lions were pretty good on their end, too.

Matthew Stafford chucked four touchdown passes as the Lions rolled over the Chiefs in a dominating 48-3 win that pushed Detroit to 2-0 on the season.

The Lions won their sixth straight game since the end of last season and never had much competition from the Chiefs after the second quarter. Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel was harassed all day, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble as well in a horrific day for the Chiefs offense.

Kansas City also lost star running back Jamal Charles when he was run out of bounds early in the game. Charles didn’t return.

Stafford had both a touchdown pass and an interception on the Lions’ first drive, as Jon McGraw fumbled after picking off the Lions’ quarterback and the loose ball was recovered by Detroit’s Tony Scheffler. Three plays later, Stafford hit Calvin Johnson for a 15-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead that Detroit never relinquished.

Kansas City got a field goal on their first possession, but never got any closer after that.

Despite the ineffective offense the Chiefs hung around into the second quarter. Stafford finally got the Lions offense rolling again, hitting Scheffler with a perfect pass on a 36-yard score to make it 14-3. Detroit increased the lead to 20-3 on two Jason Hanson field goals before halftime.

Detroit was just getting started.

Stafford engineered an 84-yard drive on the Lions’ second possession of the second half, converting a fourth-and-goal at the one with a touchdown toss to Johnson.

Detroit opened the fourth quarter with a 9-yard touchdown reception by Jahvid Best to increase the lead to 34-3. After Detroit recovered a fumble by Kansas City’s Dexter McCluster, Best ran in another touchdown from a yard out to make it 41-3.

The Lions’ first team offense was finally done, but Detroit still was able to tack on another score — after another interception by Cassel — to add even more insult to injury.

Lions Vs. Chiefs: Inactives, Injury Report

The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs have announced their inactives for Sunday's game.

The Lions players who are inactive because of injuries are Stovall, Fox, Fairley and Smith. Stovall is dealing with a hand injury, whereas the other three players are trying to come back from foot injuries. Smith is the only one of the three who has practiced, but he was limited and is still at least another week away from returning.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson and safety Louis Delmas were on the injury report this week. Both were listed as questionable, and it appears they will play in Sunday's home opener against the Chiefs since neither is on the inactives list.

Lions Vs. Chiefs: A Look At Wednesday's Injury Report

The Detroit Lions have seven players on the initial injury report for their game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Five of the players missed all of Wednesday's practice: wide receiver Calvin Johnson, offensive tackle Jason Fox, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and safety Louis Delmas.

Johnson and Delmas were out because of injuries they suffered in Week 1's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson rolled his ankle and Delmas injured his hip on the last play of the game. Both players sound like they will be able to play on Sunday against Kansas City, but nothing is set in stone this early in the week.

Fox and Fairley haven't practiced since early on in training camp. Both players are recovering from foot injuries, and it looks like their return is at least a couple more weeks away.

Vanden Bosch, the other player who missed Wednesday's practice, simply got a day off. He will take Wednesdays off throughout the season. On Thursday, he was back at practice.

The two other players on the Wednesday injury report were wide receiver Maurice Stovall and cornerback Alphonso Smith. Stovall has a hand injury, but he fully practiced. Smith, who is recovering from a foot injury, was limited on Wednesday.

Lions Vs. Chiefs: Sellout Reached For Sunday's Home Opener

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