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The Cleveland Browns head into Week 4 as one of the NFL’s most intriguing teams. Their defense has been nothing short of dominant. Meanwhile, the offense continues to sputter and search for consistency. That makes their primetime showdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field all the more fascinating. With Detroit emerging as one of the NFC’s most complete teams, the Browns will need more than defensive grit to notch another upset. Here’s a look at how this clash could play out.
The Browns (1-2) visit the Lions (2-1) on Sunday in a matchup that has suddenly become one of the week’s most compelling storylines. Cleveland stunned Green Bay in Week 3. They leaned heavily on defense to grab a statement win. The Browns’ front seven has disrupted everything in its path. They have officially put the league on notice that they can win ugly and force teams into their style of game. On the other side, the offense remains a liability. It ranks near the bottom of the league in total production. That imbalance leaves many still skeptical about their chances against a Lions team that looks far more complete.
For its part, Detroit is riding high after dismantling the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. The Lions overwhelmed Lamar Jackson on both sides of the ball. They generated explosive plays on offense while the defense swarmed to the quarterback. On a short week, however, facing a defense like Cleveland’s will be no easy task. The Browns rank first in scoring defense and are the stingiest team in the league against the run. That could keep the contest tight. This game will likely come down to whether Cleveland can manufacture just enough offense to support its defense, or if Detroit’s physicality ultimately prevails.
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Here we will look at and discuss some bold predictions for the game between the Browns and the Lions in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season.
Garrett is off to another blistering start. He has piled up seven tackles for loss and four sacks through the first three weeks. He has at least half a sack in every game so far, and his disruptive presence has consistently set the tone for Cleveland’s defense. Detroit’s offensive line has been shaky to start the season, too. That’s a notable step back from the elite unit of recent years.
Jared Goff has avoided sacks over the past two games, but he hasn’t faced a pass rush like Cleveland’s. Garrett leads a front that owns Pro Football Focus’ highest pass rush rate. As such, the Lions’ protection will be under immense pressure. Expect Garrett to notch at least one sack in this game, and perhaps more. He should continue to build his Defensive Player of the Year résumé.
Cleveland’s offense has been sluggish, [but Quinshon Judkins has emerged as a bright...
