BRIAN HOYER MAKES THE START

Brian Hoyer started at quarterback and played until midway through the second quarter. He finished 12-of-14 for 147 yards with two touchdown passes for a 150.0 quarterback rating. Hoyer culminated a first quarter touchdown drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to WR Maurice Harris. He culminated a second quarter drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to undrafted rookie WR Jakobi Meyers. Hoyer's highest career quarterback rating in a regular-season game was 127.1 on Sept. 21, 2014, vs. Baltimore while playing for Cleveland.

RB BRANDON BOLDEN, LB JAMIE COLLINS SR. AND TE BEN WATSON MAKE PATRIOTS RETURN

RB Brandon Bolden, LB Jamie Collins Sr. and TE Ben Watson returned to the Patriots this offseason after beginning their careers in New England and saw action in the game.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE PRODUCES NINE SACKS; DL DEREK RIVERS FINISHED WITH TWO SACKS

The Patriots defense finished with nine sacks. Last season, the highest sack total in a game for the Patriots was five sacks at Miami on Dec. 9, 2018. DL Derek Rivers led the team with two sacks and rookie DL Chase Winovich finished with 1½ sacks. The last time the Patriots had nine sacks in a regular-season game was on Nov. 4, 2001, at Atlanta. The Patriots have recorded nine sacks in a game five times. The single-game team record is 11 at Oakland on Sept. 22, 1963.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE HOLDS DETROIT TO JUST EIGHT FIRST DOWNS AND 93 YARDS

The Patriots defense held Detroit to just eight first downs. Last season, the fewest first downs allowed was 11 vs. Miami on Sept. 30. The Patriots have held their opponent under 100 total yards three times in regular-season play.

SEVEN OF THE PATRIOTS 2019 TEN DRAFT PICKS SAW ACTION

Seven of the 10 Patriots 2019 draft picks played in the game. First-round pick WR N'Keal Harry, second-round pick DB Joejuan Williams, third-round pick DL Chase Winovich, fourth-round pick OL Hjalte Froholdt, fourth-round pick QB Jarrett Stidham, fifth-round pick DL Byron Cowart and fifth-round pick P Jake Bailey all saw action.

2019 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK WR N'KEAL HARRY CAUGHT A PASS ON FIRST PLAY

2019 first-round draft pick WR N'Keal Harry caught an 11-yard pass from QB Brian Hoyer on a third-and-10 in the first quarter on his first play from scrimmage. He also had a 25-yard reception later in the frame.

FOUR ROOKIES IN THE STARTRING LINEUP

Four rookies were in the starting lineup against the Lions. Second-round pick DB Joejuan Williams started at cornerback, fourth-round pick OL Hjalte Froholdt started at left guard, undrafted rookie WR Jakobi Meyers started at wide receiver and undrafted rookie OL Tyree St. Louis started at right tackle.

2019 FOURTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK QB JARRETT STIDHAM SEES SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME;

SEES FIRST NFL ACTION ON HIS 23RD BIRTHDAY

2019 fourth-round draft pick QB Jarrett Stidham entered the game in the second quarter and completed his first NFL pass on a 13-yard gain to TE Matt LaCosse. Later in the series, he threw his first touchdown pass on a 5-yard reception to WR Jakobi Meyers. Stidham played in his first NFL game on what is his 23rd birthday. Stidham finished 14-of-24 for 179 yards with one touchdown.

TED KARRAS STARTS AT CENTER; HAS STARTED TWO REGULARSEASON GAMES AT CENTER

Ted Karras started the game at center. He has made two starts center during his career, starting twice in place of an injured David Andrews in 2017.

2018 SEVENTH-ROUND PICK DANNY ETLING PLAYED ON SPECIAL TEAMS

Danny Etling was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh-round of the 2018 NFL Draft as a quarterback. He saw action on the opening kickoff as well as other special teams units. He also entered the game at wide receiver in the fourth quarter.

UNDRAFTED ROOKIE WR JAKOBI MEYERS CAUGHT TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES

Undrafted rookie WR Jakobi Meyers was in the starting lineup and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from QB Brain Hoyer in the second quarter and a 5-yard touchdown pass from QB Jarrett Stidham later in the second quarter. He finished with six receptions for 69 yards and the two touchdowns.

SECOND-YEAR WR BRAXTON BERRIOS RETURNED PUNTS AND KICKS

Second-year WR Braxton Berrios, who spent the 2018 season in injured reserve, returned four punts for 35 yards. He also caught three passes for 45 yards.

DL JOHN SIMON INTERCEPTS A PASS DEEP IN DETROIT TERRITORY

DL John Simon intercepted a Detroit pass deep in Lions territory in the second quarter. He has one interception during the regular season in his career, returning a pick 26 yards for a touchdown at Tennessee on October 16, 2017, when he played for Indianapolis.

UNDRAFTED ROOKIE RB NICK BROSSETTE SCORES A TD AND A 2-POINT PLAY

Undrafted rookie RB Nick Brossette scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and then added a two-point conversion. He finished with 22 carries for 66 yards.