- K Stephen Gostkowski handled kickoff duties for the first time in the preseason. Rookie K Chris Koepplin handled kickoff duties in the first two preseason games, with Gostkowski handling field goals and extra points.
- Matt Light made his 2011 preseason debut when he started at left tackle. First round pick Nate Solder started in place of Light at left tackle in the first two preseason games.
- Solder entered the game in place of Light in the first offensive series of the second quarter.
- Julian Edelman returned a second quarter kickoff 32 yards. He returned 11 kicks for 241 yards as a rookie in 2009 but did not return any kickoffs in 2010.
- Edelman, who enters the 2011 season with a Patriots' record with a 14.2-yard punt return average during his two NFL seasons, had a 26-yard return in the second quarter that helped set up a 44-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Wes Welker.
- Wes Welker scored the Patriots first touchdown on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter. Last season, Welker's longest reception was 35-yard reception vs. Green Bay on Dec. 19. Welker's longest regular-season touchdown pass was a 35-yard pass from Tom Brady at Dallas (10/14/2007).
- QB Tom Brady started the game and played through the first series in the third quarter before being relieved by Brian Hoyer. Brady completed 12-of-22 passes for 145 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
- CB Kyle Arrington was credited with an 8-yard sack of Detroit QB Matthew Stafford in the second quarter. Arrington has never registered an NFL sack in regular season play. He also intercepted a Detroit pass in the end zone in the third quarter.
- WR Matthew Slater has two 40-yard receptions in the 2011 preseason following a 43-yard reception in the preseason-opener vs. Jacksonville and a 53-yard reception against the Lions. Both of his receptions were from Brian Hoyer.
- The Patriots lost their third preseason game after starting the preseason with a 2-0 record for the second straight year following the 34-10 loss to Detroit.
