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          D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions get off to fast start with 63-yard touchdown reception

          • Eric Woodyard, ESPNOct 24, 2021, 04:31 PM ET
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              Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: "Wasted, Ethan's Talent Search" and "All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story". He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard

          INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- With all of the attention centered on Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford facing his old squad, it was the Detroit Lions who struck first at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

          Lions quarterback Jared Goff found running back D'Andre Swift for a short screen pass that he turned into a 63-yard touchdown at 12:07 in the opening quarter. Detroit would take a 7-0 lead on the play, in which Swift broke a tackle and sprinted toward the end zone.

          For Detroit, that marked their first touchdown in a first half since Week 2 at Green Bay and was the longest receiving touchdown by a Lions running back since Reggie Bush scored on a 77-yarder against the Minnesota Vikings in 2013.

          Then, on the next play, kicker Austin Seibert booted an onside kick that was recovered by the Lions at the Detroit 47.

          The Lions' special teams would continue their trickiness, catching the Rams off guard as they lined up as if they would punt on fourth-and-7 from midfield -- but instead ran a fake and completed a pass from punter Jack Fox to cornerback Bobby Price for a first down. Detroit would take a 10-0 lead on the drive after Seibert made a 37-yard field goal with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

          Detroit continued its special teams trickery on its first drive of the second half, as the Lions called a second fake punt. This one was a 28-yard run by upback C.J. Moore on fourth-and-8 from the Lions' 35. The drive didn't result in points, as the Rams held the Lions on fourth-and-short to keep a 17-16 lead.