Detroit’s Garry James Has Green Bay on the Run, 21-14

The Detroit Lions haven’t had a breakaway threat since the career-ending injury to Billy Sims. Rookie Garry James may remedy that.

James ran for 140 yards in 20 carries in Sunday’s 21-14 victory over the winless Green Bay Packers, the first Detroit running back to gain that many yards in a game since Sims did it in 1984.

“He’s got the speed,” said fullback James Jones, who added 99 yards in 29 carries. “It’s something we’ve really missed.”

James shook off two Green Bay tacklers to score on a 41-yard run in the second quarter for Detroit’s first score and his first NFL touchdown.

Scott Williams scored on a one-yard plunge six minutes later, and Eric Hipple threw a two-yard touchdown pass to David Lewis to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter

“James takes a lot of pressure off James Jones, and myself too,” said Hipple, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Green Bay’s Randy Wright was 25 of 41 for 253 yards. He threw touchdown passes of five yards to James Lofton and six yards to tight end Dan Ross.

Lofton leaped over cornerback Duane Galloway in the end zone for his touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

“We can throw the ball but can’t run,” Packers’ Coach Forrest Gregg said.

The Lions (3-3) rolled up 236 yards on the ground, while the Packers (0-6) managed only 44 rushing yards.

“Our defense has not played well this year--period,” Gregg said. “We did a terrible job of tackling.”