Coming off its best win of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, the Detroit Lions returned home to host the Cleveland Browns. Detroit wanted to extend its winning streak, but it wasn’t be easy, as the Browns were coming off their own big win over the Green Bay Packers, holding them to just 10 points. Detroit didn’t overlook Cleveland, despite comments made by Lions offensive coordinator John Morton earlier in the week.
It was a slow, grueling game for both teams. Detroit tried to run, and while they found success at times, Cleveland held them to 277 yards and just 109 on the ground. The Lions needed all three phases to contribute for them to escape with a win. We could be talking about a Lions loss if the defense can’t create turnovers and special teams doesn’t put up 13 points.
Lots to digest and go over, so let me break it down for you as I give you my five takeaways from the Lions’ win against the Browns.
Penalties cause pain, but don’t cost Detroit the game
While the Cleveland defense was causing issues for Detroit, the Lions didn’t help themselves with all the penalties called on them. On the opening drive, the Lions defense was called for three penalties, all holding in the secondary. Even though they were not accepted due to the Browns’ offense moving the chains, it still wasn’t a good thing to see. Then if we include the flags called on Detroit, they got three more for 15 yards.
In the second quarter, running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a solid 24-yard run, but with back-to-back false starts, it pushed Detroit back and eventually forced the team to punt. Going up against a team like Cleveland, you can’t keep them in the game by messing up and hurting yourself. Detroit finished with six penalties for 35 yards, and if this was against a better opponent, it might have been more impactful.
Turnovers came up huge
With the offense sputtering, they needed some assistance, and while punter Jack Fox boomed a few punts deep to push the Browns offense back, the secondary finished them off. First, safety Kerby Joseph got his second interception of the season from a pass by Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. In the second quarter, after the Lions again can’t move the ball on offense, cornerback D.J. Reed dove and picked off the ball and returned inside the Browns’ 10.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Browns down by 17, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had a big strip sack on Flacco, and Detroit recovered. The Lions took advantage of the short field and put up a touchdown to go up 34-10. 17 points for the Lions came off turnovers, so without those, we might have seen a closer game. Detroit had struggles on offense, but when the defense gave them a short field, they executed and didn’t make it all for nothing.
Pass rush must improve
Getting seven sacks against the Baltimore Ravens was impressive, and while it’s not something I expected them to repeat, three sacks against the Browns is fewer than I expected still. The Browns were without starting right tackle Jack Conklin, and while the Browns allowed 23 pressures, it felt rare for Detroit to have an impactful pressure. Hutchinson led the team with eight and got to Flacco twice. That forced fumble by Hutchinson was the dagger in the game as the Browns were down by three scores with just a few ticks over seven minutes left.
EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had an explosive two-and-a-half sack game last week, only had 19 pass rushing downs and generated a single pressure. The Lions can’t continue to put all the pressure on Hutchinson to be their only pass-rushing EDGE player. Help is coming soon, but for Muhammad to be silent after a strong performance is disappointing to see. The Browns’ offense is one of the worst in the league, and for Detroit to only get three sacks seems lackluster.
Injuries are adding up
The Lions’ injury bug hasn’t been as impactful this season, with only a few players on IR and many returning from injuries suffered last season. Against the Browns, four starters went down with an injury, two of them returned. Hutchinson and Joseph were the lucky ones to return, but the Lions starting cornerbacks Reed and Terrion Arnold weren’t as lucky. Both left the game with injuries, but Reed’s exit appeared to be more severe than Arnold’s.
Reed left the game with a hamstring injury in the second half, but he didn’t just walk off the field; he left on the cart. Usually, when a player needs the cart to leave the field, it isn’t a good sign. We don’t know the extent of the injury yet, but it will be something to focus on for the foreseeable future.
Arnold left the game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return either. With both starting cornerbacks now suffering injuries, the Lions might need to turn to fellow cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin to contribute more on the field. We saw defensive back Avonte Maddox play when Joseph was down with an injury, so he could play at the nickel if Robertson needs to play on the outside.
Jamo connection shut down
When Lions quarterback Jared Goff attempted the deep shots against the Browns to wide receiver Jameson Williams, they couldn’t connect. The first one was an underthrown ball by Goff, and the second would hit Williams in his hands, but he struggled to find it. The Lions got a free play and missed out on a pass to Williams on the third attempt, as Goff just chucked it in hopes it could turn into a big gain.
The worst of the attempts came in the third quarter as Goff was loading up for a deep shot to Williams again and it was vastly underthrown, as Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was all by himself and picked it off. Usually Goff can connect with Williams on the deep shots, but it seemed to be an issue today between the two.
Some of the throws were on Goff, who underthrew it on some of them, while others were on Williams as he wasn’t looking for the ball or it hit him right in the hands. The pass that was dropped by Williams was a difficult catch to make, but despite it being difficult, if it can hit you in the hands, you should come down with it. You don’t usually see this combo struggle as much as they did today, as Williams can eventually break free, or Goff can place the ball perfectly.
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