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Lions 34, Browns 10 | Final Score, Stats & Game
The Lions defense forced the Browns to make mistakes, resulting in three turnovers, to allow the Detroit offense to pull away with Sunday's game against the Browns.
Detroit won 34-10 against the Browns at Ford Field. The Browns scored first in the game, taking a 7-0 lead, but the Lions pulled away with 17 consecutive points.
CB Denzel Ward picked off Lions QB Jared Goff, recording the Browns' second takeaway of the season. RB Quinshon Judkins had 82 rushing yards on 21 attempts including a touchdown. WR Isaiah Bond led the Browns in receiving, catching three passes for 58 yards.
Key Moments
Browns and Lions turn turnovers into points
Detroit picked off QB Joe Flacco twice Sunday, gaining advantageous field position and scoring points following both turnovers.
Flacco's first interception was intended for WR Cedric Tillman but a miscommunication left Flacco's pass sailing through the air to Lions S Kerby Joseph. Joseph's interception positioned the Lions in Cleveland territory, starting the drive at the Cleveland 46-yard line. On the first play, Lions QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown connected for 13 yards. Across the next three plays, the Browns stopped the Lions from picking up a first down. Detroit settled for a 48-yard field goal from Jake Bates.
Flacco's next interception was returned to the Browns' 5-yard line by CB D.J. Reed after WR Jerry Jeudy fell to the ground on a pass intended for him. After the Browns held the Lions out of the end zone on first and second down, the Lions called play action, getting St. Brown open for a touchdown and extending the Detroit lead to 17-7.
Ward picked off Goff on an underthrown pass for the Browns' second takeaway of the season in the third quarter. Cleveland gained 31 yards getting to the Detroit 15-yard line before the drive stalled out and K Andre Szmyt knocked through a 33-yard field goal.
Cleveland scores on first possession
The Browns scored on their first drive of a game for the first time this season. Cleveland used a 13-play, 88-yard drive that took nearly half of the first quarter. Flacco went 5-for-5, throwing for 70 yards on the drive, including a 33-yard completion to Jeudy that moved the Browns from the Detroit 45-yard line to the 12-yard line.
Flacco converted two third downs with a 16-yard pass to Bond as well as a 6-yard pass to Tillman that put the Browns on the Detroit 1-yard line. The drive was held out of the end zone for three consecutive plays following the Tillman catch until Judkins powered the ball in, scoring his second touchdown of the season.
Lions use special teams to pull away
With 13:56 left in the game and the Browns trailing by 10 points, P Corey Bojorquez punted away to Lions WR and punt returner Kalif Raymond. He burst through the initial surge of Browns defenders and found himself to open space, running 65 yards into the end zone and extending the Lions' lead to 27-10.
What's Next
After losing to Detroit, the Browns drop to 1-3. Next for the Browns is traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to London to play the Vikings, Cleveland's third consecutive NFC North opponent, on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
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Rex Ryan Rips Shedeur Sanders for Being an ‘Embarrassment'
The Browns crashed back to Earth on Sunday, losing on the road to the Lions, 34-10. That blowout loss came a week after Cleveland was able to rally past the Packers at home after scoring 10 points in the final four minutes of the game.
Joe Flacco started his fourth game of the season on Sunday and it's starting to feel like the 40-year-old QB's days as the No. 1 guy in Cleveland could be numbered. He threw for 184 yards against Detroit with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Browns' options at QB were a topic of discussion on Monday's espisode of Get Up . Rex Ryan took that moment to go in on Shedeur Sanders, who has been the team's third-string QB and has yet to take a snap in a regular season game.
Ryan didn't hold back on the rookie, saying:
"This kid talks and he runs his mouth. Like he said, 'I can be a starting quarterback' with his arms crossed like this. Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that. If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You've got the talent to be the quarterback, you should be. You should be embarrassed that you're not the quarterback now."
Ryan was referencing Sanders's comments last week when he said: “If you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that."
That doesn't seem like he's running his mouth, but rather showing some confidence in himself, which is how you'd want a NFL QB to feel considering how important and how difficult the position is, especially for someone who is in their first year in the league.
Ryan's comments on Monday morning seem like a cheap shot at a kid who hasn't had the chance to prove himself in a game. It's easy to sit at a desk and yell into the camera about things you think you know. Ryan seems to love doing that and probably gets paid nicely by ESPN to do so.
As for Sanders, if a QB change is eventually made in Cleveland, it will likely be fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel getting nod. All Sanders can do now is keep working hard in practice and keep ignoring what guys on TV are yelling about on a Monday morning.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rex Ryan Rips Shedeur Sanders for Being an ‘Embarrassment'.
It’s early, but in the NFL, it’s already getting late for some teams.
Entering the season, the Ravens were seen not only as a contender but a favorite, ready to finally house the franchise’s third Vince Lombardi Trophy and first in the Lamar Jackson era. Then, there were the Packers, a two-time seventh-seed that, after trading for Micah Parsons, was in the midst of redefining themselves.
There were also the teams expected to go nowhere that suddenly became part of the Super Bowl conversation. The Colts are such a squad, left for dead by the experts thanks to an uninspiring quarterback battle, but now 3–1 and tied atop the AFC South.
Which teams are contenders and which are pretenders at the quarter pole? We examine eight cases and make the call.
Baltimore Ravens: Contender
At 1–3 and riddled by injuries, it’s a dark time for Baltimore.
On Sunday, the Ravens left Arrowhead Stadium 37–20 losers to the Chiefs with injuries to Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, Nate Wiggins and Lamar Jackson, along with preexisting ailments to Ronnie Stanley, Kyle Van Noy, Nnamdi Madubuike, Broderick Washington Jr., Travis Jones and Jaire Alexander among others
Previewing a Thrilling Thanksgiving NFL Tripleheader Slate
It’s a mess. However, Baltimore has one of the league’s best rosters. And if the Ravens can get healthy, they’ll eventually get rolling. That said, they have a challenging three-game stretch at home against the Texans, Rams and Bears before going on the road to face the Dolphins, Vikings and Browns.
Forgetting the injuries for a moment, Baltimore’s biggest issue is its defense. The Ravens are 25th in dropback EPA (0.174) and 29th in EPA per play (0.149) while ranking 31st in yardage and 32nd in points allowed as of Monday morning. If that side of the ball doesn’t improve, the Ravens will quickly become pretenders.
Even with Micah Parsons, the Packers gave up 40 points, 436 yards and 26 first downs in their tie with the Cowboys on Sunday night. |
Green Bay Packers: Pretender
The Packers looked like the best team in football after a pair of resounding home wins over the Lions and Commanders. Since then, not so much.
Against the Browns, Green Bay gave up 13 unanswered, fourth-quarter points to lose 13–10 in Cleveland. Seven days later, in the Micah Parsons Bowl, the Packers were lucky to escape with a 40–40 tie, as the Cowboys racked up 436 yards and 26 first downs. One week, it’s the offense not doing the job. The next week, it’s the defense.
Green Bay is a good team, but it’s not a great one. At 2-1-1, it’s hard to make the case that the Packers are the best team in the NFC North. And Detroit, since losing to Green Bay in the opener, is 3–0 and averaging 41.3 points per game in a trio of dominant wins. Furthermore, what’s the argument for the Packers being better than the Eagles, Rams or even the Buccaneers?
Jordan Love is a good quarterback. The receivers are good and will eventually be bolstered by the returns of Jayden Reed (collarbone) and Christian Watson (ACL). However, Green Bay must be more consistent before achieving true contender.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has led Indianapolis to a 3-1 mark, but it's debatable whether the former Giants signal-caller can lead Indianapolis to the Super Bowl in the
Indianapolis Colts: Pretender
Maybe the Colts deserve better here, but it’s hard to see Indianapolis having a legitimate path to Santa Clara.
With Daniel Jones at the helm, the Colts have been reborn. Jones has thrown for 1,078 yards, third-most in the NFL. His EPA per play of 0.312 is behind only defending-MVP Josh Allen and Jordan Love. He’s doing everything asked of him.
On defense, coordinator Lou Anarumo has the unit playing solid football. It’s 13th in EPA per play (-0.028) and a respectable 17th in yards per play allowed (5.4). There’s nothing that screams regression for the Colts, who also managed to beat the Broncos and hang in for 60 minutes with the Rams.
Still, the AFC goes through Kansas City and, to a lesser extent, Baltimore and Buffalo. Can Jones really author a playoff run that takes down two or three of the quarterbacks in those cities? It feels like a tall order. However, winning the division and a playoff game is absolutely in play.
Kansas City Chiefs: Contender
After two weeks, the Chiefs were 0–2 and had more sideline disagreements than explosive plays. Suddenly, though, things have changed.
On Sunday, Xavier Worthy returned from a torn labrum and posted a career-high 123 total yards while the Chiefs beat the Ravens 37–20. Patrick Mahomes passed for 270 yards and four touchdowns. And in three weeks, the Chiefs will see the return of Rashee Rice from his six-game suspension.
But the big story in Kansas City should be its defense. After struggling in a 27–21 opening-night loss to the Chargers in Brazil, the Chiefs have shut down the Eagles, Giants and Ravens. Over those three games, Kansas City has allowed 460 passing yards while registering seven sacks, including two by George Karlaftis, nine quarterback hits and five tackles for loss, showing why general manager Brett Veach gave the defensive end a four-year, $93 million extension this summer.
At 2–2 and a game out of the AFC West lead, the Chiefs seem to be on the right track. And if Mahomes continues to play as he did Sunday, they’ll be the AFC’s team to beat again.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been sacked 12 times this season.
Los Angeles Chargers: Contender
Despite an ugly loss to the previously winless Giants in Jaxson Dart’s first NFL start, the Chargers deserve to be taken seriously.
After having the league’s top scoring defense in 2024, many expected regression. However, coordinator Jesse Minter’s group has remained a top unit, ranking third in EPA per play (-0.101), first in success rate (37.6%), second in yards per play (4.5) and fourth in points allowed (71) entering Monday night.
Offensively, the situation could be a struggle with left tackle Joe Alt dealing with a high ankle sprain and fellow stud tackle Rashawn Slater out for the year with a torn patellar tendon. Still, Alt will return and Justin Herbert can make it work until then. Herbert has been excellent in 2025, throwing for 1,063 yards to rank fourth, along with seven touchdowns. The big concern is protection, as only Cam Ward, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and Drake Maye have been sacked more than Herbert (12 sacks).
But if the Chargers can get Alt back and stay the course, they’ll be a tough out in January.
The Steelers are likely a playoff team with Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike Tomlin.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pretender
Pittsburgh is 3–1, but there are warning signs.
The Steelers beat the Vikings on Sunday in Ireland. However, they were significantly outgained in total yardage for the fourth consecutive week (372–313). Pittsburgh has been able to win by taking the ball away at a seemingly unsustainable rate, including seven in the past two games. Eventually, Pittsburgh will have to win a game without the benefit of forcing turnovers.
The schedule is also about to get far more difficult. Through September, the Steelers have beaten Justin Fields, Drake Maye and Carson Wentz. After its upcoming bye week, Pittsburgh will face the Browns and Bengals, followed by the Packers, Colts and Chargers. Later in the year, the Steelers will face the Ravens, Bills and Lions in a four-week span.
As always under coach Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh is a probable playoff team. But the defense is tied for 24th in yards per play allowed (5.7), 29th in yards per completion (11.8), 30th in overall passing (260.5/game), 23rd on third down (41.8%) and 22nd on points per drive (2.40). Once the takeaways dry up, it’s going to be much tougher sledding.
Injuries have taken their toll on the 49ers, including quarterback Brock Purdy, who returned to the lineup on Sunday against the Jaguars.
San Francisco 49ers: Pretender
The 49ers are 3–1. It took four turnovers to lose to the one-loss Jaguars on Sunday by five points. So why are they pretenders?
For starters, the roster is falling apart. Brandon Aiyuk is still on injured reserve, recovering from a torn ACL. Nick Bosa was lost in Week 3 to the same injury. George Kittle sustained a hamstring injury in the opener and hasn’t played since. And while Brock Purdy came back on Sunday after missing two weeks with turf toe, he threw a pair of interceptions and lost a fumble.
The good news? The 49ers have an easy schedule. They still have the Falcons, Texans, Giants, Cardinals, Panthers, Browns and Titans to play, all of whom San Francisco will be favored to beat. In some cases, by large spreads. But an easy docket doesn’t put a team in the contention bubble. Defensively, San Francisco ranks 19th in success rate (44.2%) and 17th in dropback EPA (0.048) despite facing Spencer Rattler, Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence over the past three weeks.
San Francisco is a decent team, but it’s a far cry from the Super Bowl teams of recent vintage.
Behind Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and a deep receiving group, Tampa Bay should be a legitimate threat in the NFC.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Contender
The Buccaneers lost for the first time on Sunday, falling 31–25 to the undefeated Eagles. But after trailing 21–3 early, Tampa Bay rallied despite being without multiple starting offensive linemen, and receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.
Tampa Bay has all the ingredients of a championship contender. Baker Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback, coming off a season in which he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. The receiving corps might be the NFL’s deepest when healthy, bolstered by rookie Emeka Egbuka, who has 282 yards and four touchdowns thus far.
The Buccaneers also play in the NFC South, which means five more games against the Falcons, Saints and Panthers. If Tampa Bay can clean up against bad teams, it will be in the mix for a top seed and have a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the second time in six years.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Super Bowl Contenders and Pretenders Entering NFL Week 5: Who’s Real and Who’s Fake.