The Detroit Lions managed to fend off a determined late surge from the Cincinnati Bengals, earning their fourth consecutive victory in a hard-fought contest.
Despite Cincinnati’s offensive explosion in the fourth quarter, Detroit’s 28-3 advantage midway through the third was too steep to overcome. The Lions leaned heavily on their ground attack, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery powering the offense throughout the afternoon.
The tone was set early when tight end Sam LaPorta made a spectacular 10-yard touchdown grab, diving into the end zone to hand Detroit a quick 7-0 lead.
Later, offensive coordinator John Morton added a creative twist. David Montgomery took a direct snap and threw a touchdown pass to Brock Wright, extending the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter.
Cincinnati managed just a field goal before halftime, as Jake Browning’s struggles continued. The Bengals’ quarterback was intercepted multiple times, with Amik Robertson nabbing his first pick as a Lion and Kerby Joseph adding another interception before the break.
The turnover party continued in the third quarter when Alex Anzalone grabbed an interception, setting up a 20-yard touchdown reception by Jahmyr Gibbs off a screen pass. The Lions then stretched their lead to 28-3 when Montgomery ran in an 8-yard score later in the quarter.
The Bengals mounted a comeback in the fourth, with Ja’Marr Chase catching two touchdown passes from Browning to pull within two scores. But Detroit responded quickly, as Jared Goff connected with rookie Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard touchdown, restoring control at 35-17.
Browning found Tee Higgins for another late score, trimming the deficit to 11 points, but the Lions’ defense sealed the deal. Derrick Barnes sacked Browning for a safety, putting the final nail in the Bengals’ hopes and closing out a 37-24 victory.
Now 4-1 on the season, the Lions turn their attention to a primetime showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bengals, on the other hand, continue to struggle without Joe Burrow, who remains sidelined with injury.
While Lions fans celebrated another win, many expressed concern over the offensive line’s shaky outing without Taylor Decker. After three straight games without giving up a sack, Detroit allowed four sacks against Cincinnati — a worrying sign as the schedule toughens.
Still, the overall mood among fans online was positive yet realistic — confident in the team’s progress, but aware that there’s still plenty of room to clean things up before facing the defending champions next week.
