Cleveland Browns fall to the Detroit Lions, 38-24
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns fell to 0-9 on the season as they dropped a 38-24 decision on the road against the Detroit Lions.
The Cleveland Browns gave it a good try on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, but ultimately it was not enough as the Browns fell, 38-24.
The loss drops the Browns to 0-9 on the season and 1-24 under head coach Hue Jackson.
It also moves the team one game closer to what certainly must be the end of Jackson’s tenure as head coach with the Browns.
In what at times was the Browns best game of the season, three offensive series stand out as the best examples of why it is time to move on from Jackson.
Trailing 17-10 near the end of the second quarter, the Browns embarked on a drive that took them from their own 25 to a first-and-goal at Detroit’s two-yard-line with 19 seconds left on the clock.
The Browns were out of timeouts, however, and after tight end David Njoku could not get two feet down on a potential touchdown pass from quarterback DeShone Kizer, the Browns had a second-and-goal with 15 seconds remaining. Certainly a field goal attempt was the worst-case scenario.
But the Browns inexplicably called a quarterback sneak – or Kizer had the freedom to audible into one – Kizer was stopped, and the clock ran out. It was one of those play calls that the Browns have become known for, one that fans wish they could unsee after it unfolds.
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Cleveland bounced back from that to score touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half to take a 24-17 lead. Things were looking good, but good times are not meant to last for the Browns.
The Lions answered back with a pair of touchdowns to take a 31-24 lead with just under 11 minutes remaining in the game. The Browns were without Kizer, who was knocked out of the game after taking a nasty shot to his ribs, and the offense was now in the hands of backup quarterback Cody Kessler.
All was not lost, however, as the Browns only trailed by seven points and, up to that point, had dominated Detroit’s defense by rushing for 197 yards. With plenty of time on the clock, the backup quarterback in the huddle, and a dominant run game, the opportunity was there for the Browns to grind out a nice game-tying drive.
So of course Jackson decides it is time to pass the ball.
Cleveland opened the drive with a Kessler sack, then handed the ball off to Isaiah Crowell for a draw play. Then it was Kessler with an incompletion.
The Browns punted, but the defense held the Lions and the Browns got the ball back still only trailing by seven.
Can you guess what they did? Pass for five yards, incompletion, sack, punt.
The Lions finally put the game away at that point, as wide receiver Golden Tate took a short pass 40 yards for a touchdown that put the Lions up 38-24.
Let’s recap: the Browns were down by seven, had almost 11 minutes on the clock, had their backup quarterback in the game, were ripping the Lions on the ground, and Jackson decides to call passes on five of their next six offensive plays.
In what universe does that make sense?
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Browns:
- They rushed for 201 yards and 6.1 yards per carry against a Detroit defense that came into the game giving up just 3.6 yards per carry. Crowell had 90 rushing yards and a touchdown, Duke Johnson added 54, and Kizer had 57, including his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.
- Kenny Britt doubled his touchdown total for the season with a nice catch-and-run on a 19-yard pass.
- Emmanuel Ogbah had four sacks, and Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert each added a sack.
- Myles Garrett continues to make things happen when he is on the field. (Although he needs to work on those offside penalties.)
- For the most part the defense made the Lions work for what they got. It was a rough day for the rush defense though, as they let a weak Lions rushing attack rush for 104 yards and 5.5 yards per carry.
The end result may have been a familiar one, but this may have been the best game the Browns played all season.
Next: Browns vs. Lions: 3 match ups to watch
It’s too bad the guys on the field didn’t get more help from the guy on the sidelines.