DETROIT (AP) - Matthew Stafford's first game under Jim Caldwell was a success.
Of course, it helps to have a healthy Calvin Johnson running free behind the opposing secondary.
Stafford improvised brilliantly on two early touchdown passes to Johnson, and Detroit beat the New York Giants 35-14 on Monday night in Caldwell's first game as Lions coach.
Stafford also ran for a TD for Detroit, which intercepted Eli Manning twice in the Lions' first Monday night opener since 1971. It was a bright start for Detroit, which collapsed down the stretch last year and missed the postseason. Jim Schwartz was fired and replaced by Caldwell.
Stafford went 22-of-32 for 346 yards. Johnson had seven catches for 164 yards.
Manning was 18-of-33 for 163 yards and a touchdown for the Giants, who started 0-6 last season and never led in their 2014 opener.
Stafford scrambled to his right and threw deep to Johnson on the game's first drive, and defensive backs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Stevie Brown appeared to collide. Nobody else on the Giants was anywhere near Detroit's star receiver, who was able to jog into the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown.
Later in the first, Stafford scrambled to his left, and then threw back to his right. Johnson made a diving catch in the back of the end zone for a 16-yard TD.
The Giants revamped their secondary in the offseason, but Stafford took advantage of a couple big breakdowns. In the third quarter, he found Golden Tate for a 44-yard gain on third-and-11, which led to a Detroit field goal.
Johnson tied Herman Moore's team record with his 107th straight game with a catch.