Lions Continue Streaking Ways, 44-0

The Detroit Lions know how to finish fast. Yet rarely have they been this impressive.

Barry Sanders ran for two touchdowns, Scott Mitchell passed for two more and the high-flying Lions breezed to a 44-0 rout over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

It was the largest margin of victory in team history and also the most one-sided win in the NFL this season. The Lions’ previous best was 42 points, three times.

The Lions (9-6), who extended their winning streak to six games, have scored 190 points in their last six games and remain in strong contention for a playoff berth.

If the Minnesota Vikings lose tonight at San Francisco, the Lions will make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.

“The magic number goes to 10 wins now,” Lion Coach Wayne Fontes said. “That’s all this team will hear from my lips.”

Detroit has not lost since club owner William Clay Ford issued Fontes a “playoffs-or-else” ultimatum after a loss at Atlanta.

Detroit is 26-13 under Fontes in games played on or after Thanksgiving; it is 20-6 in the final four games of the season.

“We have a lot of confidence right now,” said Sanders, who ran for 76 yards in 22 carries, including scores of four and two yards. “This is probably the best high we’ve had in the last couple of years. I don’t know if we’ve been on a stretch like this before.”

Herman Moore had five catches for 59 yards, giving him an NFL-record 1,581 for the season.

The Lions close the regular season Saturday at Tampa Bay.

“We have to win in Tampa,” center Kevin Glover said. “We have to keep our confidence going in the playoffs. And because of that, we have to win next week.”

It was the seventh consecutive loss for the expansion Jaguars (3-12).

“It’s humiliating, but there have been a lot of difficult moments, and I’m sure this won’t be the last,” Coughlin said. “We’re humbled and embarrassed.”

Things got so bad the Lions ordered backup quarterback Don Majkowski to take a knee on a fourth-and-14 play at the Jacksonville 22-yard line with 4:48 left.

“There was no reason for them to do anything else,” said safety Harry Colon, a former Lion. “They had already proven that they could do whatever they wanted to do offensively.”