The game opened with Sam LaPorta predicting that the Lions would be able to move the ball around — and that set the theme for the first half.
A sharp curl route by Jameson Williams got things rolling with a first down, but the drive stalled quickly after an incompletion, a short run by Gibbs, and tight Browns coverage that forced Goff into a checkdown. The Lions punted from midfield, pinning Cleveland deep at their own 12.
The Browns answered by moving the ball with ease — a mix of runs and quick passes led to a diving grab by Isaiah Bond and a 30-yard strike to Jerry Jeudy, who left D.J. Reed trailing. Detroit’s red zone defense, one of the NFL’s best this year, was put to the test. After multiple penalties (including a couple on rookie CB Terrion Arnold), the Browns eventually pounded it in on 4th-and-goal with rookie RB Quinshon Judkins. Cleveland led 7-0.
Kalif Raymond’s strong return jump-started Detroit’s next drive. A key block from Penei Sewell gave Goff time to roll out and hit Amon-Ra St. Brown wide open — “as open as an apple orchard in fall.” A couple of Browns penalties put the Lions inside the 10, where Gibbs punched it in to tie the score at 7-7.
Momentum swung further Detroit’s way when Craig Reynolds lit up the return man on special teams and Kerby Joseph picked off a Joe Flacco floater that hung in the air forever. The Lions offense couldn’t cash it in, but former brick salesman Jake Bates drilled a field goal to make it 10-7 Lions.
The defense followed with a statement. A screen to Judkins was blown up by Aidan Hutchinson, who then collected his third sack of the season. Ford Field’s noise caused a Browns delay of game, and on 3rd-and-21, Reed blanketed Jeudy to force an incompletion. Cleveland punted, with Hutch leaving the field gingerly — but he returned soon after.
Detroit’s run game finally showed a spark with a Gibbs burst, but back-to-back false starts by Brock Wright and Taylor Decker killed the momentum. Jack Fox flipped the field with a booming punt inside the Browns 10.
With Hutchinson back, the defense feasted again — Tyleik Williams knifed through for a tackle for loss, Amik Robertson broke up a pass, and the Browns went three-and-out. On Cleveland’s next possession, newcomer D.J. Reed jumped a route for an interception. Kerby Joseph injured his knee on the return, but the Lions capitalized, as Goff found St. Brown wide open in the end zone for a 17-7 lead.
The Browns tried to answer before halftime but sputtered, with Hutchinson briefly shaken up again on a chip block. Detroit got the ball back with a minute to play and worked quickly to set up Bates for another field goal. He delivered, and the Lions took a 20-7 lead into the break.