Lions Have Found Breakaway Threat in Rookie James

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

“We never had a guy the last three years who could do that,” said veteran fullback James Jones, who added 99 yards in 29 carries. “He’s got the speed. It’s something we’ve really missed.”

James ran 41 yards in the second quarter for Detroit’s first score and his first National Football League touchdown.

“They wanted to see if I could run inside. It’s a start,” James said. “I just want to show them it’s not a fluke.”

Sims had knee surgery in October, 1984, and never returned. He retired last summer as the Lions’ all-time leading ground gainer.

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

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

Green Bay Coach Forrest Gregg said the game boiled down to Detroit’s ability to run the ball on the Packers’ defense.

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

Scott Williams scored on a one-yard dive in the second quarter as he and James teamed for a 14-point Lions surge.

Detroit wrapped up the game on Hipple’s two-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Lewis with 7:07 left in the game. The pass capped a 14-play, 70-yard drive that began when Detroit nose tackle Eric Williams recovered a fumbled Green Bay snap on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Packers were driving in Detroit territory.

Green Bay quarterback Randy Wright threw touchdown passes of five yards to James Lofton and six yards to tight end Dan Ross. Wright completed 25 of 41 for 253 yards and an interception.

The Lions built a 14-7 halftime lead with a running attack that gained 146 yards rushing up to that point compared with Green Bay’s 138 yards in total offense.

James gained 88 yards in the first half and went over 100 in the third quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions scored two touchdowns before Lofton leaped over cornerback Duane Galloway in the end zone with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

Detroit’s first touchdown came when James’ run capped a 5-play, 54-yard drive. When his planned route was blocked, James broke through to the left side of the line and raced into the end zone.

Williams went over from inside the one-yard line on the Lions’ next possession. Williams’ first NFL touchdown was set up by a nine-yard pass interference call on cornerback Mossy Cade, who was defending Detroit wide receiver Jeff Chadwick in the end zone.

Cade also was called for unsportsmanlike conduct when he threw down his helmet in protest.