The Detroit Lions’ 34–10 win over the Cleveland Browns wasn’t flawless, but it was convincing. Detroit leaned on its defense, got a special teams spark, and watched its offensive leader shine again. Still, a few concerns remain. Here are five players (or groups) who stood out as winners, and five who need to clean things up.
Winners
1. Jack Campbell
He was everywhere. With 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, and several plays in coverage, Campbell anchored Detroit’s run defense and kept the Browns from consistently finding soft spots. His maturation as a defensive leader was on full display.
2. Aidan Hutchinson
He terrorized the backfield. Two sacks, multiple QB pressures, and a strip sack (even one wiped by a penalty) show that Hutch is trending back toward the disruptive force he’s capable of being.
3. Kalif Raymond
When the offense stalled, Raymond changed the scenery. His 65-yard punt return touchdown came at a crucial moment and swung momentum decisively. That kind of special-teams play is gold for a playoff-caliber team.
4. Taylor Decker & Penei Sewell (O-Line Combo)
Facing one of the league’s premier edge rushers in Myles Garrett, the O-line held firm. Goff wasn’t sacked by Garrett, and the line allowed just enough pressure to force attention but not break the offense. That sort of protection buys the rest of the unit freedom.
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Once again, the “Sun God” delivered when Detroit needed him. He caught seven passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns, proving to be Goff’s most reliable weapon and the emotional leader of the offense. Even after a multi-TD performance, he said the unit can still be better, a sign of his hunger for more.
Losers
1. Jameson Williams
He had big expectations heading in, but this week he couldn’t connect. Drops, miscommunications, and underwhelming separation make this one of his roughest days so far. He needs to find a rhythm.
2. Terrion Arnold / Cornerback Room
Losing Arnold and Reed to injury was a blow. The secondary is suddenly thin, and the fact that the depth behind him is untested raises real concerns if injuries linger.
3. David Montgomery
After a monster game last week, Montgomery couldn’t find traction. Nine carries for just 12 yards is a steep dip. The Browns’ defensive interior bottled him up, and the Lions leaned more on Gibbs.
4. Brian Branch
Some of his mistakes were costly, holding calls wiped away opportunistic plays, and a dropped interception didn’t help. His aggressive style produces splash plays, but the penalties and misses need to diminish.
5. Opening-Drive Defense
This may not fall on one player, but it’s a theme: Detroit has given up a touchdown on every opening drive this season. Against Cleveland, the Browns struck early, and that’s a habit a playoff team can’t maintain.
The Bottom Line
The Lions left Ford Field with another double-digit victory, but also with reminders that there’s room for growth. With leaders like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jack Campbell, and Aidan Hutchinson setting the tone, Detroit continues to show it has the talent and grit to win in multiple ways. Cleaning up slow starts and getting healthier in the secondary could turn a very good team into an elite one.
Jeff Bilbrey
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