EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Quarterback Matthew Stafford directed three touchdown drives and the Detroit Lions held off the New York Jets in a 24-17 victory on Sunday.

Stafford helped the Lions improve to 3-1 by completing 24-of-34 passes for 294 yards, and scored a 1-yard run six seconds into the fourth quarter that capped a 14-play, 90-yard drive.

Stafford targeted Calvin Johnson just twice with the star receiver limited due to an ankle injury. Johnson had two catches for 12 yards but Golden Tate picked up the slack with his fourth career 100-yard game. Tate had eight catches and 116 yards. Wide receiver Jeremy Ross and tight end Eric Ebron added TD catches.

Quarterback Geno Smith heard boos at halftime and finished 17-for-33 for 209 yards as the Jets dropped their third straight following a season-opening 19-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. Smith threw an interception and fumbled on the Detroit 35-yard line with 10:29 remaining in the fourth when former Jets safety James Ihedigbo forced the turnover.

Detroit was unable to turn the turnovers into points and the Jets were down seven (24-17) following a 35-yard run by running back Chris Johnson. After Reggie Bush was stopped on third-and-1 with about five minutes remaining, the Jets regained possession but running back Chris Ivory dropped a pass from Smith on third-and-2.

A bootleg call on second-and-3 set Stafford into the open field for a seven-yard run on first down and clinched the win with under two minutes remaining.

In his first game with the Lions, kicker Alex Henery added a 51-yard field goal but missed a 52-yard attempt with 11:28 remaining in the fourth.

Ivory had 17 carries for 84 yards but 51 of those came on the Jets’ opening drive when they settled for a 27-yard field goal by Nick Folk.

Detroit tied it with a seven-play, 47-yard drive capped by Henery’s 51-yarder.

The Lions took a 10-3 lead with 6:19 remaining in the second after Stafford converted a 3-and-10 with a 59-yard pass to a wide open Ross. They extended their lead to 17-3 when Stafford found Ebrom in the middle of the end zone for a 16-yard TD.

New York opened the second half with a 74-yard drive when Eric Decker caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Smith with 7:26 remaining.

NOTES: Among Detroit’s inactives were TE Joseph Fauria (ankle), LB Travis Lewis (quadriceps) and CB Cassius Vaughn (ankle). … Garrett Reynolds started at right tackle in place of LaAdrian Waddle (left calf), who missed his third straight game. … Among New York’s inactives were CB Dee Milliner (quadriceps), who missed his second game of the season. … New York WR David Nelson left the game with an injured leg and S Calvin Pryor injured his thigh in the first half. … Jets’ NT Damone Harrison suffered an apparent leg injury in the fourth quarter. … Detroit lost RB Theo Riddick and FB Montell Owens to hamstring injuries.