Browns lose again in Detroit, 34-10

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

DETROIT, MI

Instant takeaways from Browns 34-10 loss to Detroit Lions …

1. Not their town, Motown: The Browns’ all-time record in Detroit fell to 1-11 with another loss to the Lions, a convincing, 34-10 beatdown. The Browns actually held a 7-0 lead after scoring on their first possession – only their second in-game lead in the first month of the season. Joe Flacco’s two interceptions in the first half didn’t help the cause, but his receivers didn’t either with drops and broken routes. A third Flacco turnover in the fourth quarter on a lost strip sack increased his miscues to eight giveaways in four games. The game got out of hand in the second half because of another huge special teams breakdown and the offensive blunders. Flacco (16 of 34, 184 yards, two interceptions, three sacks, 39.3 passer rating) exited with 3:59 to play. As usual, the defense deserved better. The Browns now pack their bags and their 1-3 record for London to play the Vikings. No doubt Dillon Gabriel’s name will be brought up to coach Kevin Stefanski all week.

2. Paying no compliments: Well, the complementary football that won the Browns the game against the Packers disappeared. In the fourth quarter, successive drops on deep balls to Harold Fannin (through his hands) and Jerry Jeudy (watch the film) resulted in a Corey Bojorquez punt. It wasn’t a good one and Kalif Raymond returned it 65 yards for a touchdown for a 27-10 Detroit lead.

3. Some life snuffed out: The Browns had something going in the third quarter after the longest pass play of their season – 35 yards to Isaiah Bond. (Jeudy had a 33-yard reception earlier in the game.) But that possession blew up on a false start, a Flacco incompletion and a very ill-advised second-and-15 handoff to Jerome Ford for a 1-yard loss. Andre Szmyt’s 56-yard field goal try missed to the left. It was his first missed kick since Game 1. On Detroit’s ensuing possession, Devin Bush outraced Jahmyr Gibbs to the right sideline on an unsuccessful fourth-and-2 try by the Lions at the Browns’ 24. The Lions were 7 of 8 on fourth-down conversions entering the game.

4. Well waddya know?: Only the second takeaway of the Browns’ season came on Detroit’s first possession of the second half. From his 12-yard line, Jared Goff threw deep for Jameson Williams, who was nowhere near the ball when Denzel Ward intercepted it. Williams was not having a good day at that point (1 catch on 6 targets). Ward returned it to the Lions’ 42. After some tough running by Quinshon Judkins, the drive stalled at the 15. Szmyt’s 33-yard field goal cut the Detroit lead to 20-10.

5. Too many TOs: Turnovers by the Browns were the story of the first half. Flacco was intercepted twice, and each time there were mitigating circumstances. On the first, Cedric Tillman stopped his route while Flacco was throwing deeper to the left sideline. Safety Kerby Joseph was there for the easy interception. It resulted in a Detroit field goal. The second one survived a replay review after D.J. Reed appeared to trap the ball. Prior to the INT, Jeudy lost his footing and complained of a foul. Reed returned the ball 34 yards to the Browns’ 5. A Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown 1-yard TD ensued.

6. Every point counts: The Lions tacked on three points at the end of first half when Jake Bates nailed a 58-yard field goal. The big play in the 47-second drive after a punt was a Goff strike to tight end Sam LaPorta over a trailing Bush for 27 yards. It was 20-7, Lions, at the half.

7. Strength v. strength: In the first half, Detroit's vaunted run game was held in check for 46 yards on 10 attempts. Gibbs got 24 on one run. The Lions came in averaging 149 rushing yards a game. For the game, the Lions had 111 yards on 27 attempts. 

8. Hot hand early: Flacco was sharp on his first drive, going 5 for 5 for 70 yards as the Browns took the lead in-game for only the second time in four games. The big play was a play-action pass of 33 yards to Jeudy on which the Browns lined up jumbo fullback Adin Huntington on first down from the Detroit 45. That’s the first time the big guy was used on something other than a short-yardage play. When the Browns got to the Lions 1, their short-yardage package produced on the fourth play. Two unsuccessful Flacco sneaks set up fourth down at the 1. Judkins squeezed it over the goal line behind Huntington. Sixth lineman Teven Jenkins also was part of the package.

9. Cool hand, Joe: After the 5-for-5 start, Flacco went 5 of 10 for 40 yards and the two picks in the first half.

10. More Huntington, please: Huntington made an early entrance on the defensive line on Detroit’s first offensive series. On second down, Jim Schwartz used Huntington as a fifth D-lineman, and Gibbs was stopped for a 3-yard gain. Detroit punted two plays later. On Goff’s easy 1-yard TD to St. Brown later in the second quarter, Schwartz lined up six defensive linemen on third-and-goal from the 7. Goff recognized it and play-faked. St. Brown easily peeled off to the right uncovered to the end zone.

11. Tillman out: Tillman left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return.

12. Pre-game notes: For the second week in a row, right tackle Jack Conklin did not even conduct a pre-game workout to test his injured right elbow. Conklin was made inactive for the third straight game. With Dawand Jones out for the year, KT Leveston made his first NFL star. But he played left tackle and Cornelius Lucas started at right tackle. Other inactives: safety Damonte Kazee, cornerback Cam Mitchell, running back Rocket Sanders, defensive tackle Mike Hall, offensive tackle Thayer Munford, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (QB3). Guard Zak Zinter was active for first time in four games.