Published: October 06, 2008 07:09 am         

Bears rout lowly Lions

DETROIT — Kyle Orton looked like a star against the Detroit Lions.

Again.

Orton set career highs in yards passing, completions and quarterback rating while throwing two touchdowns to lead the Chicago Bears to a 34-7 win over Detroit on Sunday.

He was 24-of-34 for 334 yards and had a 121.4 rating, improving to 3-0 against Detroit.

Like many NFL players, Orton loves playing the Lions.

“Yeah, I do for some reason,” he acknowledged.

Orton surpassed his previous bests of 22 completions and 268 yards passing — both of which he reached last month against Tampa Bay — and a 103.3 rating, which he set in a 38-6 win over the Lions at home in 2005.

Chicago (3-2) broke a first-place tie with the Green Bay Packers, who lost at home to Atlanta, to lead the lackluster NFC North with about one-third of the season completed.

“If we stay there, we get to the playoffs,” safety Mike Brown said. “If we don’t, it’s going to be a battle.

“Our goal is to stay there.”

It will be surprising if the Lions (0-4) don’t stay in the basement of the division, because they might have trouble winning any time soon. The move to fire team president Matt Millen appears to be moot because of the mess he left behind in seven-plus seasons in charge.

Instead of chanting, “Fire Mil-len!” at Ford Field, the fans simply booed early and often before filling the aisles and heading for the exits early in the third quarter.

Now, the focus has turned to the possible firing of Rod Marinelli, who is an NFC-worst 10-26 since becoming a head coach for the first time in 2006.

“I don’t look in the future,” said Marinelli, who seemed beleaguered at his news conference. “I’m going to get up tomorrow and go to work.”

Lions executive vice president Tom Lewand was asked if Marinelli could turn the team around and he dodged the question by saying he had tremendous respect for Marinelli.

“We had an awful game today, but it’s an organizational loss,” Lewand said. “It’s not on any one individual.”

Chicago built a 31-0 lead, a familiar start for Detroit, before rookie Kevin Smith scored midway through the third.

The Lions trailed 21-0 in their first two games and 21-3 in the third, leading to Millen’s firing during a bye week that ended his era with an NFL-worst 31-84 mark since 2001. Detroit has been outscored 38-0 in the first quarter this season.

“I’m very frustrated,” receiver Roy Williams said. “We are an 0-4 ballclub, but we aren’t an 0-4 ballclub in my eyes. We’re better than that.”

Detroit played fourth-year quarterback Dan Orlovsky in the third quarter for the first time in his career because Marinelli said Jon Kitna had back spasms.

Orlovsky was 13-of-23 for 97 yards — all career highs — and threw an interception. Kitna was 8-of-16 for 74 yards and fumbled on the Lions’ fourth possession after they had minus-4 yards of offense on their first three possessions.

“From the first drive, shutting them down and making them punt, really kind of got it started for the day,” Chicago coach Lovie Smith said. “The defensive line put pressure on the quarterbacks all day. We were able to shut down their run and just make plays.”

Chicago had four sacks and held Detroit to 54 yards rushing.

The Bears scored only three points in the first quarter before turning the game into a rout with 14 points in both the second and third quarters.

Rookie Matt Forte scored on a 9-yard reception to make it 10-0 in the second quarter, and his 1-yard run early in the third made it 24-0.

Orton connected with Devin Hester for a touchdown late in the second quarter and Charles Tillman intercepted a pass that went off Williams’ hands and returned it for a score, giving the Bears a 31-0 lead early in the third.

Chicago finished with its most lopsided win on the road against the Lions since winning 42-14 in 1948.

“It’s the best we’ve played as a team,” Smith said.

Detroit has given up 82 points in its first two games at Ford Field, matching a franchise record set in 1958 for points allowed in its first two home games.

“We’re not executing,” Marinelli said, “it’s clear as a bell.”

Notes: The Bears were without CB Nathan Vasher (wrist) and DT Tommie Harris (team suspension) and lost LB Nick Roach (shoulder) during the game. ... Kitna (back), Orlovsky (ankle) and TE Casey FitzSimmons (elbow) were banged up for the Lions.