Lions, Cardinals recap, highlights: Detroit dominates in all 3 phases

Key Points:

• The Detroit Lions overcame a slow start and dominated the Arizona Cardinals in the second through fourth quarters, scoring on seven straight drives and forcing five consecutive three-and-outs on defense to secure a 45-21 victory.
• Detroit's defense improved significantly after the first quarter, limiting Arizona's offense and forcing multiple punts, while the offense found rhythm behind key plays from Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams.
• The Lions moved to a 3-2 record, tying with the Packers and Bears for second place in the NFC North, trailing only the undefeated Vikings.
• Special teams contributed with impactful punt returns, although Tom Kennedy suffered a knee injury early in the game; Detroit also benefited from strong defensive plays, including sacks and an interception.
• Detroit controlled the game tempo in the fourth quarter, focusing on the run game to maintain their lead and ultimately securing a decisive win despite a late Arizona touchdown.