DETROIT (AP) — Tom Brady was perfect on the field and his exit was first class.

Brady threw a season-high four touchdown passes, all in the second half, and the New England Patriots routed the Detroit Lions 45-24 on Thursday after trailing by 11 late in the second quarter.

“We showed some resiliency, coming out in the second half and playing the way we did when the crowd was into it,” Brady said.

Following Brady’s brief news conference, the former Michigan star jogged out of Ford Field — limping slightly up a steep ramp — hugged Robert Kraft and got into an idling limo with the team owner behind a police escort.

New England (9-2) moved a half-game ahead of the AFC East rival New York Jets — who played Cincinnati on Thursday night — for the NFL’s best record, setting up a showdown at home Dec. 6.

“I don’t think we’re at where we need to be at,” Brady said. “But this is a tough group.”