Browns' Turnovers and Special Teams Hand Lions 34-10 Victory: Game Notes

Another road game where the Browns mistakes make it easy on the opponent.

Carson Schwesinger and Greg Newsome bring down Lions tight end Same LaPorta during the Lions 34-10 win over the Browns at Ford Field on September 28, 2025. (Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns)

Hard to win football games in the NFL. Very hard, week to week. When you hand opponents points through consistent mistakes, it’s nearly impossible. That’s what happened at Ford Field in Detroit today, as the Browns turned in another disappointing, mistake-filled game similar to the one in Baltimore. Games where the scoreboard shows a wide margin, but that’s not how it felt. These mistakes are crucial, embarrassing, and costly. The Browns are beating themselves.

They cut the Lions’ lead to 20–10 with a rugged third quarter that saw the defense string together multiple stops and the offense muster a couple of scoring drives. They had momentum. But an early fourth-quarter punt return touchdown ended the day, despite plenty of time left on the clock.

The box score tells a familiar story: similar yardage, time of possession, and third-down results. The problem remains turnovers and special teams. The Browns cannot find a solution to their turnover issues, and with an already struggling offense, those mistakes are especially crushing. We discussed all of it in the post-game show if you’d prefer more context.

Here are the Week 4 Game Notes.

• The offense continues to struggle. I have left that first sentence there in place for a few weeks now. The group lacks consistency, gives up too many pressures, and has the type of self-inflicted wounds only the league’s worst offenses can find. After their strong opening drive that saw them go 13 plays and 88 yards for a touchdown, the offense mustered just 161 yards the rest of the day. Outside of the turnovers, they could not get out of any of the holes they dug for themselves with penalties or sacks. I don’t show them having one set of downs where they had an “overcome” outcome.

• I know most of you are tired of the Joe Flacco experience. I get it. He is not playing good football, but the units around him — and to an extent coaching — are not helping the cause. Flacco’s first interception he is saying that it is his fault for throwing it up the left sideline when Cedric Tillman broke off his route. He might be telling the truth. Who knows. It was ugly in every way. Regardless the safety was going to be there and it was a low percentage throw at best. Poor process, but again, more pressure was in his lap.

• The second interception was Jerry Jeudy falling down on a timing route. This ball is thrown at the moment of break and Jeudy cannot go to the ground, even if he he grabbed at the break moment. He has to play through it.

• Look, Flacco is playing too skittish with pressure right now, and he is sped up into bad choice far too often. He clearly is not the answer but thinking the rookies on the bench are the answer is hopeful thinking at best — and I say that with full admission I am eager to see them play.

• It wasn’t all bad for Flacco. He placed some throws downfield well for his guys and they either dropped them or ended up not making the play. He also found Isaiah Bond for a few chunk throws downfield. He is still willing to push the ball vertical when there are chances. The short portions of the field have been the bigger struggle of late.

• The backfield was basically the Quinshon Judkins show throughout — just like last week. He had 36 snaps to the 16 for Ford and only 9 for Sampson. He also dominated touches on the day as he carried the ball 21 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 4 receptions for 33 yards. He runs with power and burst. It was on display throughout as he created tough yards in tight spaces. He is among the best at the position in the class, that much is for sure.

• The receiver group was led by rookie Isaiah Bond. He made two special catches downfield — one on a deep over and the other up the right sideline. He only caught three passes on the day but led all receivers with 58 yards. He is starting to flash some traits that could mean something to a consistent role down the line. The Browns want him involved and he is responding quite well. Far from a finished product but you can see the vision.

• Jeudy had nine targets on the day and only hauled-in three of them. He had a nice effort on a return-corner route on the first drive where he took the cornerback into the deep middle before snapping off his route to return to the sideline for the 33 yard catch.

• The problem for Jeudy remains the physical part of the position when cornerbacks get their hands on him and force him to win with play strength. Too often he is moved off his spot, ends up on the ground, or unable to finish plays where there is serious contact initiated. Outside of the fall down interception, his final drop on the days was a good example of that issue he has. Slight contact can knock him out of his comfort zone and then he struggles to finish the play.