FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The seventh consecutive win was in the books, and Vince Wilfork had a message to get across to the people who doubted his New England Patriots early this season.

“So many people saying how bad we were … everything possible negative that people could say they said about us,” the nose tackle said after Sunday’s 34-9 rout of the Detroit Lions. “Our No. 1 job was to block out all the noise, ignore it, and just concentrate on what we need to do to get better. That was our No. 1 goal and that’s still our No. 1 goal.

“Now you look … we’re one of the best teams in the league. So the same people that were saying we were the most terrible team in the league now are patting us on the back. We don’t have no room for them. We don’t have no room for bandwagons.”

Quarterback Tom Brady, playing on the 14th anniversary of his first NFL snap, handled the Lions’ top-ranked defense in the league, throwing for 348 yards and two first-half touchdowns to tight end Tim Wright.

Brady, who relieved Drew Bledsoe at the end of the Detroit rout on Thanksgiving Day almost a decade-and-a-half ago, registered the 63rd 300-yard game of his career, tying him with Dan Marino for third place on the NFL’s all-time list.

“I thought we got off to a good start and then played from ahead,” said Brady.

Running back LeGarrette Blount, re-signed by the Patriots on Tuesday after his release by the Pittsburgh Steelers, also scored two touchdowns, both on short runs and the first on his first carry. He added a 23-yard run in the third quarter and a 33-yarder in the fourth and finished with 78 yards on 12 carries.

“It’s good to see him back,” said Wilfork. “You know how we do things around here. He’s never been a problem and I don’t see him being a problem for us.”

The win was the Patriots’ 15th straight at home, including six this season, and was also New England’s 14th straight over a AFC North opponent, the longest current streak by any team against any division. It also ensured the Patriots (9-2) of their 14th straight winning season, third most ever by an NFL team.

The Lions, who came in No. 1 in the league in total, scoring and rush defense, failed to score a touchdown for the second straight week and fell to 7-4 with their second straight loss, following last week’s defeat against Arizona.

“I don’t know how you can call yourself a competitor if you are going to chalk it up and say we just aren’t good enough,” said Lions center Dominic Raiola. “I don’t look at it like that. There is stuff we could have done better, period.”

Brady, who finished 38 of 53, was picked off at the Detroit goal line by safety James Ihedigbo in the third quarter — only the third red-zone interception of Brady’s career to go with 140 red-zone touchdown passes.

He has 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions during the winning streak — and on Sunday he became the sixth quarterback in NFL history with 7,000 pass attempts.

Wide receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell caught 11 and nine passes, respectively, while running back Shane Vereen had eight catches, as the Patriots rolled up 439 yards of offense.

LaFell was banged up and moving gingerly in the locker room after the game.

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford was 18 of 46 for 264 yards and an interception — to go with a 49.5 passer rating.

“I think we missed some opportunities to make some big plays, got behind the chains a couple times, some untimely penalties, a couple sacks, a couple negative plays,” said Stafford, who was sacked twice and has gone down 33 times this season. “So, (we) threw the ball a decent amount in the first half, didn’t come away with touchdowns. That’s big when you play a team like that.”

Matt Prater was three of four on field goals for the Detroit scoring, while Stephen Gostkowski kicked two field goals for New England.

Danny Amendola had an 81-yard kickoff return after the Lions made it 7-6 in the second quarter to set up New England’s second touchdown. The Patriots also got a 70-yard punt return, for an apparent touchdown, by Edelman called back for a penalty.

What the Patriots said:

“Yeah, we have a turnover bag. When somebody gets a turnover on defense, we bring the ball back to the sidelines and put it in the turnover bag. Logan (Ryan) got one today.” — Cornerback Darrelle Revis.

“You got to give credit to the whole defense. They played an unbelievable game, and on offense we just did our job and got a good victory.” — Tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“I didn’t see anything. I just heard what happened, but that was stupid.” — Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, on Lions center Dominic Raiola throwing a hard block as his team took a knee to end the game.

What the Lions said:

“We just didn’t finish and they were scoring touchdowns. It just comes down to making plays.” — Center Dominic Raiola.

“We just got outplayed today, and they beat us.” — Safety Glover Quin.

“They did well in all three phases, and when it was our turn, we didn’t do the same.” — Wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

What we learned about the Patriots:

1. If opponents double-team tight end Rob Gronkowski, quarterback Tom Brady will wear them out by throwing to other receivers. Gronkowski wound up with five catches Sunday, but wide receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell combined for 20 catches, running back Shane Vereen grabbed eight and tight end Tim Wright five, two for touchdowns.

2. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork loves proving a point to the critics who doubted the Patriots after they fell to 2-2 with an embarrassing lost at Kansas City. “So many people saying how bad we were … everything possible negative that people could say they said about us,” Wilfork said. “Our No. 1 job was to block out all the noise, ignore it, and just concentrate on what we need to do to get better. That was our No. 1 goal, and that’s still our No. 1 goal. Now you look … we’re one of the best teams in the league. So the same people that were saying we were the most terrible team in the league now are patting us on the back. We don’t have no room for them. We don’t have no room for bandwagons.”

–QB Tom Brady, playing on the 14th anniversary of his NFL debut — also against Detroit, in a late relief role — threw for 349 yards and two first-half touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Lions. It was his 63rd career 300-yard game, tying him with Dan Marino for six on the all-time list. He also became the sixth NFL quarterback with 7,000 pass attempts. During New England’s seven-game winning streak, he has thrown 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions. The pick he threw near the goal line Sunday was only his third career red-zone interception, to go with 120 touchdown passes. Brady relieved Drew Bledsoe at the end of a 34-9 Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit in 2000. On Sunday, he engineered a 34-9 win over the same franchise.

–RB LeGarrette Blount, who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after leaving the field early last Monday night and re-signed by the Patriots on Tuesday, scored on a 3-yard run on his first carry back with his old team. It came on his second play from scrimmage. He went on to score another touchdown and reel off runs of 23 and 33 yards in the second half. Blount gained 78 yards on 12 carries. “It’s good to see him back,” NT Vince Wilfork said. “You know how we do things around here. He’s never been a problem, and I don’t see him being a problem for us.”

–RB Jonas Gray went from being a star and on the cover of Sports Illustrated to not playing a down Sunday. The SI cover jinx? He reportedly was sent home from practice after arriving late Friday. Gray dressed Sunday but didn’t get in the game. Earlier this season, CB Darrelle Revis was late to practice and was sent home, but he played in the next game. Ah, being a first-year player. “We do what we think’s the best, that’s what we did today,” coach Bill Belichick said. Gray said he was disappointed he didn’t play but happy the team got the win. Revis talked to Gray after the game.

–WR/KR Danny Amendola set up New England’s second touchdown with a dazzling 81-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. His career-long kick return is 84 yards, for the Rams in 2010. Later in Sunday’s game, Julian Edelmen ripped off what looked like it a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, but it was called back because of a penalty.

–TE Tim Wright, acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late August, hauled in his fifth and career-high sixth touchdown catches in the first half Sunday. He finished with five receptions for 36 yards.

What we learned about the Lions:

1. Detroit is a good team, but nothing more than that. Playing two quality opponents the past two weeks, the Lions failed to produce a touchdown and were outscored by a combined 48-15. Quarterback Matthew Stafford posted a 49.5 passer rating Sunday, and the Lions wasted chances to score, settling for field-goal attempts.

2. Stats can be deceiving. The Lions came into the game leading the NFL in team defense, points allowed and rushing defense, yet the Patriots had their way most of the day. New England, which did have trouble in the third quarter, piled up 439 yards, 90 on the ground, and scored 34 points in the easy win.

–QB Matthew Stafford didn’t have a great day Sunday in the Lions’ loss to the New England Patriots. He finished 18 of 46 for 264 yards, an interception and a 49.5 passer rating. He is a combined 36 of 76 for 447 yards and two picks the past two weeks, and the Lions failed to get into the end zone in both games.

–WR Golden Tate got off to a great start with two catches for 41 yards on the first series of Sunday’s game. However, playing against Patriots CB Darrelle Revis, he caught only two more passes the rest of the game. He also had a 13-yard end-around run in the loss. Tate did go over the 1,000-yard season receiving mark for the first time in his career.

–S James Ihedigbo intercepted a pass from former teammate Tom Brady at the goal line and dropped what would have been pick No. 2. The interception was only the third of Brady’s career inside the red zone and only his second during New England’s seven-game winning streak. Ihedigbo has two interceptions in the past three games, his only two of the season.