The Lions (6-1) are off to their best start since 1956 after beating the Titans

DETROIT – There's no doubt in Amon-Ra St. Brown's mind that this year's Detroit Lions – off to their best start since 1956 – are the best team he's ever been a part of.

With a dominant 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the Lions scored more than 50 points for the fifth time in franchise history. They are also the first NFL team to have a lead of at least 150 yards and win by at least 30 points since 1933, when yardage was first fully recorded.

“Definitely the best team I've played on since I've been in this league,” said St. Brown, who has now recorded a receiving touchdown in five straight games. “I thought last year's team was great – I think we're maybe even a little better this year – but to start 6-1 is great, it's great. But we have this mentality of playing one week at a time.”

Six different Lions players finished the game with a touchdown, but Tennessee totaled 416 net yards to Detroit's 225. However, the Lions still managed to dominate the game in all three phases, especially on special teams, where they scored 231 punts. Return yards recorded – including wide receiver Kalif Raymond's 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Raymond became the first player in franchise history to score a receiving touchdown and a punt return touchdown in the same game and attributes the team's success to his lunch bucket mentality.

“I think you have a room and a team full of high-character people who have faced some adversity at some point in their careers, and when you have people who work so hard, put in so much effort and have so much character, then that's it that's no problem. “I don’t go into the week thinking you’re entitled to anything,” said Raymond, who previously spent two seasons at Tennessee in 2019-20.

According to ESPN Research, the Lions have now scored 172 points (43.0 points per game) in their last four games, the most points in a four-game span in a season in franchise history. And they are the third team since the merger in 1970 to have 13 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns and a 100-point margin of victory in seven games in a season.

The other two teams to do this were the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 1998 Denver Broncos, both of whom won the Super Bowl.

Guys are still not happy.

“I know that sounds kind of hollow after 52 points, but there are some things we can do better on offense when we weren't in that red zone,” said Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who finished the game with 85 passing Yards finished.

With the Lions holding a large lead, Goff exited the game early in the fourth quarter as backup Hendon Hooker was able to get some reps.

According to ESPN Research, Goff has completed 84.3% of his passes over the last five games – the highest five-game completion rate in NFL history (minimum 50 passes).

As impressive as those numbers were, coach Dan Campbell is encouraging his team to keep cool in the face of their early success.

“It’s really just about what lies ahead. I don’t feel like it’s something we’re aiming for on the next record – we’re just playing ball,” Campbell said. “We try to play as cleanly as possible. We try to be as productive as possible.”

“The players value it a lot, they are responsible for it and they want more. They know when it's good and when it's not, so that's a credit to them. We still have room for improvement, which is great.”

The Lions ended a six-game losing streak against the Titans. They played without second-leading receiver Jameson Williams, who was suspended two games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Detroit scored 52 points despite 47 offensive plays and finished the day with 61 passing yards. Detroit became the third team in league history to score more than 50 points in a game with fewer than 100 passing yards since 1933. The Lions faced the 1950 Giants (51 yards) and the 1955 Bears (98 yards).

Immediately following the win, Detroit turned its attention to next week's NFC North divisional showdown in Green Bay.

“I like where we are, we are in a good position. It’s win No. 6, it’s a perfect lineup,” Campbell said. “We get to go to Lambeau this week, I’m really excited. I know the boys are and that's why it was good. This is a good win.”