By Larry Lage
The Associated Press

DETROIT - The New England Patriots worked too hard to overcome a four-losing streak to let one slip away against the lowly Detroit Lions.

Antowain Smith ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Tedy Bruschi returned an interception 27 yards for a score in the Super Bowl champions' 20-12 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

The Patriots (7-5) have won four of their last five games. They began the season with three wins, then lost four straight.

"We have our destiny back in our own hands again, and that's all you can ask," Smith said. "If we win out, we should be in the playoffs."

New England plays Buffalo, the New York Jets and Miami at home in December, and at Tennessee.

The Patriots overcame having a punt blocked, throwing an interception in the red zone and nine penalties against the Lions (3-9) in large part because they scored two TDs off Joey Harrington's three first-half interceptions.

"You win the game, and it's great, but I don't think any of us are going to walk away thinking that everything is solved," said New England's Tom Brady, who was 18-of-30 for 210 yards with an interception and no touchdowns.

Troy Brown caught 10 passes for 111 yards for the Patriots.

The Lions have dropped four straight games and lost consecutive Thanksgiving Day games for the first time since 1992-93.

Detroit has scored just two TDs in its last three home games and has been held under 20 points in the last six games.

A national-television audience witnessed what those following the Lions have seen for weeks - Harrington is struggling. He finished 22-of-44 for 210 yards with no TD passes. The rookie has thrown nine interceptions and five TDS in his past five games.

Chants of "Jo-ey! Jo-ey!" at Ford Field have given way to boos. There were even sarcastic cheers late in the first half when he threw a ball away instead of forcing a pass or taking a sack.

"I think we put entirely too much pressure on the kid to make plays," said Detroit's Chris Claiborne, who blocked a punt. "You can't expect him to come out of the box and be Dan Marino."

New England needed fewer than six minutes to grab a 10-0 lead, and never let the Lions get closer than 7.

After Jason Hanson's fourth field goal cut Detroit's deficit to 20-12 with 9:46 left, the Patriots ran out the clock by driving from their 19 to the Detroit 1. Brady then kneeled to end the game.

During the 17-play drive, New England was penalized twice on third-and-7, but converted both times.

"We've got three of our last four at home, but we know we've got to play better than this," New England guard Mike Compton said.

Hanson moved past Eddie Murray as the Lions' career scoring leader with his second field goal. The 11-year veteran has 1,118 points.

Notes

Bruschi, who left the game late in the first quarter, will have an MRI exam on his right knee this weekend. ... Detroit's Tony Semple left the game in the second quarter with a dislocated shoulder, James Stewart and Cory Schlesinger both left the game with "significant stingers," and Barrett Green was sidelined with a sprained left ankle. ... There was a Lions game and a Thanksgiving parade in downtown Detroit for the first time since they left Tiger Stadium for the Pontiac Silverdome in 1974.

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