Lions Perfect Without Sanders

PONTIAC, Mich. — Barry who?

The Detroit Lions lost Barry Sanders to retirement, then lost wide receiver Herman Moore to injury early in their first game, yet they keep finding ways to win.

A 91-yard kickoff return by Terry Fair and the heady play of quarterback Charlie Batch on Sunday brought Detroit back for a 23-15 victory over the Green Bay Packers, keeping the surprising Lions unbeaten after two games.

The Lions are alone in first place in the NFC Central.

“We weren’t going to stop playing just because Barry isn’t here,” Batch said. “We are doing exactly what I expected us to do. We are winning football games.”

It was the sixth loss in the last seven trips to the Silverdome for the Packers (1-1), who went ahead, 15-14, with 12:55 left in the fourth quarter. But the Lions (2-0) came up with some fireworks of their own.

Fair returned the kickoff to the eight, and three plays later, Batch made a nice fake and took it in on a bootleg to put Detroit back in front, 20-15, with 10:57 remaining.

“That just took everything out of them,” Batch said. “They were back in the game, but when we only have to go 10 yards, that doesn’t give their defense a chance.”

Jason Hanson’s 48-yard field goal, capping a 63-yard, 10-play drive, made it 23-15 with 2:46 left.

That seemed like plenty of time for Favre, who brought the Packers back in the final 1:51 for a victory over Oakland in their opener.

“I had the utmost confidence in our team,” Favre said. “We just didn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had. We still had an opportunity late.

“The two-minute drill is something we’re good at. But we can’t make a living off it.”

Favre alternated runs by Dorsey Levens with passes of 22, 13 and eight yards to drive the Packers to Detroit’s 27. But on fourth and two, his pass intended for Antonio Freeman was swatted away by Robert Bailey, and the Lions killed the final 1:02.