Falcons polish off Lions
Vick and Atlanta rest easy in romp
DETROIT -- The Atlanta Falcons dominated the Detroit Lions so thoroughly, Michael Vick was able to kick back and relax.
Vick threw two touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler, and Warrick Dunn ran for 116 yards to lead Atlanta to a 27-7 victory over Detroit yesterday.
''It's always nice when you get an opportunity in the fourth quarter to sit down, enjoy the moment and the victory," Vick said.
Atlanta (7-4) took advantage of playing the lowly Lions (4-7), closing the gap behind NFC South co-leaders Carolina and Tampa Bay to a half-game after losing two straight at home.
''Our division is probably one of the toughest in the league, so we have a long way to go before we even think about the playoffs," Dunn said.
The Falcons improved to 4-1 away from home. ''We're road warriors," Crumpler said.
The only positive for Detroit was this: The result of its annual Thanksgiving game wasn't as bad as last year, when Indianapolis beat the Lions, 41-9, handing them their most lopsided loss on the holiday.
Like last season's matchup, however, the visitors were ahead by so much in the fourth quarter they rested their star quarterback.
''It was ugly and it was embarrassing," said Joey Harrington, one of three QBs Detroit used.
Vick was 12 for 22 for 146 yards with two TDs and an interception. Crumpler tied career highs with seven receptions and two TDs, and had 104 yards receiving.
Dunn went over the 100-yard mark on just 17 carries, thanks in part to some huge holes opened up by the offensive line, and topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season. Atlanta, the NFL's top rushing team, ran for 256 yards.
The Lions had such a rough day they went through three quarterbacks.
Harrington started and was 6 of 13 for 61 yards with an interception. Jeff Garcia entered late in the first half and completed 14 of 24 passes for 154 yards with a TD and an interception.
Rookie Dan Orlovsky, who starred at the University of Connecticut, got a chance to play late and was 5 of 11 for 43 yards and, fittingly, a fumble with 15 seconds left just outside Atlanta's end zone.
