The Detroit Lions have spent the past two weeks bulldozing their way through defenses, and offensive coordinator John Morton believes his unit is only scratching the surface. But ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns, star pass rusher Myles Garrett isn’t letting that confidence go unchallenged.
Detroit comes into Week 4 boasting one of the most productive rushing attacks in football. Behind a physical offensive line, the Lions are averaging 149 yards per game on the ground — the fourth-best mark in the NFL. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have been the engines of that success, combining speed, power, and patience to keep defenses off balance. That dominance, coupled with consecutive wins over the Bears and Ravens, has Morton convinced that Cleveland hasn’t faced a test like this yet.
“I don’t think they’ve seen a run game like ours,” Morton told NFL.com earlier in the week. “We’ve been able to move people, stay on schedule, and wear down defenses. That’s the biggest thing for us — staying patient, sticking with it, and making sure we’re in manageable situations. First and second down will be critical, because that sets the tone for everything else.”
The Browns, however, have numbers of their own to back up their confidence. Through three games, Cleveland sits at the top of the NFL in rushing defense, giving up just 57.3 yards per outing. That’s no small feat considering the talent they’ve faced — Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and rookie Chase Brown. Among that trio, Brown had the best day with just 43 rushing yards, highlighting just how effective the Browns’ front seven has been.
Garrett, the leader of that defensive line, made it clear he’s eager to prove Morton wrong. “He’s entitled to his opinion,” Garrett said Friday. “But he hasn’t seen a defensive front like ours. We’ll see who’s right when the game starts. At the end of the day, it’s about execution, not talk. We’ll get our answer Sunday.”
The All-Pro edge rusher also hinted that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has a few wrinkles ready for Detroit’s offense. “It’s a battle of philosophies,” Garrett added. “Our coaches believe in what we do, and it’s on us to put it into action.”
Oddsmakers at FanDuel still give Detroit the edge, listing them as 9.5-point favorites. The Lions’ offensive line, widely regarded as one of the best in football, will look to impose its will early and create running lanes for Gibbs and Montgomery. But Cleveland’s front, powered by Garrett’s explosiveness and reinforced by a disciplined supporting cast, has yet to give up a breakout rushing performance to any opponent this season.
Sunday’s clash at 1 p.m. ET shapes up as the ultimate strength-versus-strength battle. The Lions bring momentum and belief in their ground dominance, while the Browns counter with a defense that has been nearly impenetrable. Whether Detroit can keep its rushing attack rolling or Cleveland holds firm will go a long way in deciding which team takes control of this early-season test.
