Three weeks into the season, some were wondering if the NFL had caught up to Ben Johnson’s offense. Now with November fast approaching, the Detroit Lions are scoring points at a historic rate.

The Lions topped 50 points for the fourth time in a regular-season game in franchise history Sunday, demolishing the lowly Tennessee Titans, 52-14.

The Lions are averaging 43 points over the past four games and their 52 points was the second most in franchise regular-season history, behind a 55-20 win over the Chicago Bears in 1997.

WOW: Detroit Lions open season 6-1 for the first time since 1956

Johnson showed off his usual creativity as a play caller Sunday, scheming Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brock Wright, Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond open for easy touchdowns, but the Lions’ latest offensive explosion was a team effort.

The Lions forced four Titans turnovers and got huge contributions from the return game to improve to 6-1 heading into next week’s NFC North showdown with the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions, off to their best start since 1956, are the only one-loss team left in the NFC.

By the numbers

I can’t remember a game more statistically absurd than Sunday’s.

The Lions had 9 net passing yards in the first half and at one point in the third quarter trailed the total-yardage battle, 298-134, yet led on the scoreboard, 42-14.

The Lions started four offensive possessions inside the Tennessee 25-yard line in the first half, the first time that’s happened in a game since 2002, according to ESPN.

How’d they do it? By dominating on special teams and getting timely big plays from their offense and defense. Kalif Raymond scored on a 90-yard punt return and had another 64-yard return. Khalil Dorsey had a 72-yard kick return. Trevor Nowaske intercepted a careless Mason Rudolph pass. Jahmyr Gibbs ran 70 yards untouched for a score. Amik Robertson punched out two fumbles.

Big plays are so important to a team’s success and no one in the NFL is creating more right now – in all three phases of the game – than the Lions.

Everybody loves Raymond

Dan Campbell touted Raymond as the team’s No. 3 receiver this summer, and while that hasn’t quite materialized – Tim Patrick, who signed to the practice squad in late August, has played most of the season in that role – the shifty Raymond had a career game Sunday against one of his old teams.

Raymond returned five punts for 190 yards, caught two passes for 14 yards and scored two touchdowns. His 90-yard return gave the Lions a 42-14 lead early in the third quarter, and he caught a 7-yard touchdown pass a few minutes to make it, 49-14.

Raymond was one of the Lions’ original signings under Campbell and Brad Holmes and has toiled largely in anonymity as a good soldier for four seasons. He’s one of the NFL’s best return men. He’s a physical perimeter blocker in the run game. And he does the type of dirty work Campbell appreciates.

Raymond played well in wins the past two weeks over the Vikings and Cowboys and was ticketed for a bigger-than-normal role on offense Sunday with Jameson Williams missing the first game of his two-game suspension. He’ll find the sledding tougher in the return game going forward – the Titans entered Sunday ranked bottom-third in the league in kick- and punt-return average allowed – but is another in the Lions’ endless well of weapons.

Thinking ahead

The Lions have 10 takeaways (and one turnover) in their past three games, but I left Sunday with the same feeling I had after last week’s win over the Vikings – they need more pass rush to fortify themselves for a long playoff run.

They’ve played two games without Aidan Hutchinson and have four total quarterback hits by their defensive line in those games. Levi Onwuzurike had a pressure on Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph to force a turnover on Sunday, but it came on a two-man route when no one was open downfield.

The NFL trade deadline is just over a week away, on Nov. 5. Campbell said he wanted to see how James Houston (one QB hit), Isaiah Thomas and Al-Quadin Muhammad played before the team jumped into the trade market.

I don’t get the sense they’ll trade for a big name, but it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see a new pass rusher in town by this time next week.

Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline" from noon-2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Troy Sports Card Show. Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions clinical in 52-14 obliteration of Tennessee Titans