Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - Kyle Orton threw for a career-high 334 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago routed Detroit, 34-7, in the latest installment of their 79-year-old rivalry at Ford Field.

Orton completed 24-of-34 passes for the Bears (3-2), who have won two straight games to take over first place in the NFC North. Rookie Matt Forte had 36 rushing yards on 15 carries and scored on the ground and through the air, while Rashied Davis finished with six receptions for 97 yards.

"We certainly made a lot of plays and got the ball down the field a little bit," said Orton. "The first quarter we left a few points on the field, but the defense shut them down and gave us the time to get going."

Jon Kitna connected on 8-of-16 passes for 74 yards before leaving with back spasms for the hapless Lions (0-4), who fared no better in their first game since firing longtime general manager Matt Millen on September 24. The Lions compiled an NFL-worst record of 31-84 during Millen's tenure.

"It started in the first quarter," said Kitna. "A little back spasm at halftime, it just locked up and really I tried to go back out but I couldn't really get out."

Dan Orlovsky came on to complete 13-of-23 passes for 97 yards and an interception after replacing Kitna. Roy Williams had seven receptions for 96 yards in the loss. Kevin Smith ran for 31 yards and the team's only touchdown.

"We're not far and I know that sounds crazy to people, but we're not far," said Lions coach Rod Marinelli. "That's where we are right now, and it gets magnified. Right now, that's where we're struggling still, but we're confident we'll change it around."

After the Bears defense forced a three-and-out, Orton and Forte quickly led the team into field goal position with a nice mix of the run and pass. A false start penalty by Davis and a sack by the Lions' Jared DeVries stymied the drive, however, and Chicago was forced to settle for a 37-yard Robbie Gould field goal and a 3-0 edge with just under seven minutes left in the opening quarter.

Chicago extended its lead early in the second quarter when Orton took advantage of good field position, turning it into a nine-yard TD pass to Forte to push the Bears advantage to 10-0 with 5:27 left before halftime.

Detroit continued to struggle from there and Chicago took advantage. This time, Orton capped a four-play, 80-yard march by finding Devin Hester on a slant for a 12-yard TD to put the Bears up by a comfortable 17-0 margin with 1:56 remaining in the second quarter.

The rout was on early in the third quarter. After Marty Booker hauled in a brilliant one-handed catch for a 30-yard gain to the Detroit one, Forte bulled up the middle for a one-yard TD to give the Bears a 24-0 lead with 11:17 left in the third quarter.

The Chicago defense got in on the fun when Orlovsky tried to hit Williams but the ball caromed off him and into the hands of Charles Tillman, who turned and raced 26 yards to the end zone and a 31-0 Bears edge.

The Lions finally got on the board after Hester flubbed a Nick Harris punt, giving Detroit the ball at the Bears 22. Smith eventually raced in from 12 yards out with a brilliant cutback run to make it a 31-7 game with 7:08 left in the third.

"We had control most of the game," said Bears coach Lovie Smith. "I thought we had the momentum from start to finish."

Gould's second field goal of the game, a 45-yarder with 11:58 left in the contest, accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Orton also set career highs in completions (24) and quarterback rating (121.4) and is 3-0 as a starter against the Lions...Chicago now leads the all-time series with Detroit, which dates back to the 1930 season, 88-64-5...The Lions swept the home-and-home series last season. The Bears were 37-27 losers when the teams met at Ford Field in Week 4, and dropped a 16-7 decision at Soldier Field in Week 8...Lovie Smith is now 5-4 against the Lions as a head coach, while Detroit's Marinelli is 2-3 against both Smith and the Bears as a head man...Smith and Marinelli both served as defensive coaches on Tony Dungy's staff with Tampa Bay from 1996 through 2000.