Lions beat Chiefs to end home schedule with win

DETROIT (Reuters) - The Detroit Lions held on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 25-20 to end a six-game losing streak on Sunday, providing a small bright spot in another disappointing year.

TJ Duckett ran for 102-yards and a touchdown and Paris Lenon returned an interception for another score as the Lions (7-8) closed out their home schedule with a victory but will still miss the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

While the crowd at Ford Field was in a festive mood, the win over a the struggling Chiefs (4-11) who slumped to their eighth successive loss, did little to inspire hope that better days were ahead for the Lions fans.

"It's not good enough, my expectations are higher than that (7-8 record), Lions coach Rod Marinelli told reporters. "It was a big win, especially going 5-3 at home. A winning record at home, these fans have been special all year, so it's big.

"Now we just have to get ourselves ready to go for the next one."

The Lions wrap up their season next Sunday with a visit to Lambeau Field to take on the playoff bound Green Bay Packers.

The Lions were on the scoreboard first, Duckett capping off an 80-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run.

A blocked punt late in the opening quarter followed by a 46-yard field goal from Jason Hanson early in the second pushed Detroit ahead 12-0.

Lions linebacker Lenon then intercepted Brodie Croyle and returned the ball 61-yards for his first career touchdown.

Croyle injured his right hand on the play and was replaced by Damon Huard, who immediately engineered a pair of touchdown drives, Jackie Battle diving over from three yards out for one touchdown and Jared Allen snaring a one-yard pass for another, slicing the Detroit lead to 19-14 at the half.

The Lions came out after the break and scored on their first possession, Hanson booting a 20-yard field goal set up by a 53-yard scamper by Duckett, the longest by a Detroit running back this season.

Kansas City continued to battle, Huard hooking up with Dwayne Bowe on a 34-yard touchdown strike early in the fourth quarter but missed the two point convert attempt to get within 22-20.

That was as close as the Chiefs would get to their first win in two months, Hanson sealing the victory with his third field goal of the game with 43 seconds left to play. (Editing by Clare Lovell)