New England improves to 2-3 on the season.

The Pat the Patriot throwback uniforms brought success for the Patriots, as New England defeated the Detroit Lions 29-0. Without quarterback Mac Jones, rookie Bailey Zappe tossed for 181 yards and a score, while Rhamondre Stevenson rumbled for 161 yards – a new career high

New England also got some help from their defense – beyond shutting out Detroit’s top-scoring offense – as Kyle Dugger recorded a 59-yard scoop and score touchdown.

Here’s everything that went down at Gillette Stadium.

Final Score: Patriots (2-3) 29 : 0 Lions (1-4)

October 9, 1:00 pm ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA | Broadcast Information | Inactives

First quarter

New England won the coin toss and deferred, putting Jared Goff and the highest scoring offense on the field to begin Sunday’s contest. Detroit converted one first down behind running back Jamaal Williams, then dialed dup the aggressiveness on fourth-and-one from their own 40-yard line. The Patriots defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs.

Starting with strong field position, Bailey Zappe and the Patriots offense got to work. After a one-yard Damien Harris run, Zappe found Hunter Henry down the seam for a 23-yard gain. The offense then stalled, leading to a Nick Folk 37-yard field goal to give the Patriots the lead. [Patriots 3 : 0 Lions]

Detroit got off to a fast start on their next offensive position, as Jared Goff connected with Josh Reynolds off play-action for a 22-yard gain. Two plays later, Craig Reynolds broke off a 19-yard run to move the ball into New England territory. The Patriots defense held strong in the red zone, as Goff’s pass to T.J. Hockenson was intercepted by rookie Jack Jones.

Backed up at their own three-yard line, New England got to work on the ground with Rhamondre Stevenson before Zappe found Jakobi Meyers for a 12-yard gain on third-down. On the next play, Stevenson broke loose, rumbling for 49-yard gain down to Detroit’s 31-yard line. Zappe then found Meyers two plays later for 10 more yards, setting Stevenson up for a four-yard conversion on third-down. After a nine-yard rush by Harris on first down, both backs got stuffed short setting up a 32-yard field goal. [Patriots 6 : 0 Lions]

Second quarter

The Lions third offensive drive started with strong field position after a 47 yard return from Maurice Alexander. After one first down running behind Jamaal Williams, a third down sack by Matt Judon and Josh Uche forced a punt.

Zappe got back to work finding Jakobi Meyers for a 17-yard gain on New England’s next drive. After a pair of penalties on the following plays, Zappe’s pass bounced off Nelson Agholor’s hands into the air for an interception by DeShon Elliott.

Injury Report: Damien Harris (hamstring) is questionable to return.

Looking for their first points of the afternoon after the interception, Goff found Kalif Raymond for 20 yards facing a third-and-16. Again getting aggressive on fourth-and-nine, Matthew Judon got home and forced a fumble, which Kyle Dugger scooped up and took 59 yards for a touchdown. [Patriots 13 : 0 Lions]

After the score, New England’s defense got right back to work forcing a quick three-and-out before the two-minute warning.

The Patriots two-minute offense got to work, as Zappe found Meyers for a 15-yard gain to start the drive. After an eight-yard completion to Henry, DeVante Parker drew a 22-yard pass interference penalty to move the ball across midfield. A screen too Stevenson on the next play picked up 15 more yards before an Isaiah Wynn holding call on the following play put New England behind the sticks. Facing a first-and-20, New England ran with Stevenson to set up a field goal before the half. Nick Folk banged it home from 44-yards to extend the Patriots lead entering halftime. [Patriots 16 : 0 Lions]

Third quarter

Looking to build on their lead in the second half, Rhamondre Stevenson broke off an 11-yard run before Parker drew another pass interference penalty down field for 25 yards. Two plays later, Zappe found Hunter Henry for a 17-yard completion putting New England in field goal range. Nick Folk capped off the nine-play drive with his fourth field goal of the day. [Patriots 19 : 0 Lions]

Injury Update: Damien Harris (hamstring) was downgraded to out.

After being shutout in the first half, the league’s top scoring offense went to work on their first drive of the second half. Goff found Josh Reynolds for an eight-yard gain to start the drive and Jamaal Williams broke a 13-yard run two plays later. A 10-yard completion to Kalif Raymond followed, but Detroit again faced a fourth down situation three plays after. On fourth-down, Goff’s completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown was short of the sticks.

New England got their rookie wide receiver Tyquan Thornton involved on their next drive, as he hauled in back-to-back short receptions for a combined seven yards. On third-down, Zappe found Hunter Henry who out leveraged his defender for a conversion. After another completion to Meyers across the middle, Stevenson ripped off eight- and 11-yard runs to eclipse the 100-yard mark for the third time in his career. Then, Bailey Zappe delivered his best ball of the day, finding Jakobi Meyers for a 24-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. [Patriots 26 : 0 Lions]

Still scoreless, Detroit broke off one of their first big plays of the afternoon. After a first down completion Josh Reynolds for 17 yards, Goff found Craig Reynolds for a 36-yard catch and run. Following two incompletions, Goff connected with St. Brown for a 11-yard third down conversion. Down at the New England 13-yard line, an offensive pass interference wiped out a potential Detroit score. Now behind the sticks, Detroit was not able to recover but a questionable Mack Wilson Sr. third-down roughing the passer penalty gave them a new set of downs. The Lions were not able to take advantage of the new life, as Myles Bryant broke up Goff’s fourth-down pass intended for St. Brown.

Injury Report: Nelson Agholor (hamstring) is questionable to return.

Fourth quarter

New England’s next drive started with a pair of penalties, as Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s false start backed them up before an illegal contact on Detroit gave the Patriots a first down. After a Zappe deep shot to Tyquan Thornton fell incomplete and two runs by Stevenson, the Patriots were forced to punt.

Injury Update: Jonathan Jones (ankle) is questionable to return.

Back with the ball, Goff found Craig Reynolds for a 25-yard gain out of the backfield. That was all for Detroit though, as they again failed to convert a fourth-down and handed the ball back to New England.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, Zappe again found Meyers off play-action for 23 yards – putting Meyers over 100 receiving yards for the third career time. On the very next play, Stevenson broke off a 26-yard run to move New England into the red area. Consecutive runs by Kendrick Bourne, Stevenson, and Zappe led to Nick Folk’s fifth field goal. [Patriots 29 : 0 Lions]

Goff and the Lions quickly moved the ball on their next drive, hitting consecutive completions of 12, eight, and 31 yards. Inside the red area, Detroit faced yet another fourth down and failed to convert – marking their sixth failed conversion of the day.

Winding down the clock, New England continued to rely on Stevenson who stayed successful. The sophomore back quickly picked up two first downs forcing Detroit to use their remaining time outs. The Patriots then punted following two Bailey Zappe kneels.

Detroit kneeled to end the game. [Patriots 29 : 0 Lions]