November 28, 2013.
It is a date that most Detroit Lions fans have committed to memory at this point. Almost five years ago was the last time that a Lions running back rushed for over 100 yards in a single game. Since Reggie Bush tallied 117 yards against the Packers, players like Joique Bell, Ameer Abdullah, Zach Zenner, and Theo Riddick have all fallen short.
However, this fun trivia fact became a thing of the past on Sunday night against the New England Patriots. Kerryon Johnson, selected in the second round this past offseason, is the latest hope drafted by Detroit to break this curse, and he eclipsed the century mark on national television to finally end the Lions’ 70-game drought.
Johnson looked exactly like the back the Lions hoped he would be, hitting 101 yards on 16 carries. He caught the ball twice for nine receiving yards as well. The running game as a whole has looked as good as it has in a long while against New England. LeGarrette Blount may not have been the record-breaker, but he added 48 yards of his own against a Patriots defense who looked like they missed their old defensive coordinator.