Lions intercept Bengals' Jake Browning 3 times, cruise to 37-24 victory

Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News on Oct 5, 2025

Published in Football

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CINCINNATI — The Detroit Lions rolled into Cincinnati at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, hoping to feast on a Bengals offense that's without star quarterback Joe Burrow.

Much to their delight, backup quarterback Jake Browning was hosting an all-you-can-eat buffet.

The Lions intercepted Browning three times, which directly resulted in 14 points and gave Detroit enough breathing room to stave off a late comeback attempt from the home team in a 37-24 victory.

The Lions (4-1) snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bengals, beating Cincinnati (2-3) for the first time since 1992.

Detroit's offense had some surprising hiccups against a Bengals team that was 30th in total defense entering the game, but for the second week in a row, its defense ensured a win by multiple scores. The Lions' offense was just 4 for 12 on third down.

Cornerback Amik Robertson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Kerby Joseph all had interceptions, which directly resulted in 14 points. Linebacker Derrick Barnes sacked Browning for a safety to ice the game with 1:49 remaining.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff was 19-for-23 passing for 258 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 153.0. He was also sacked four times — second-year left tackle Giovanni Manu, who was making his first career start in the place of injured tackle Taylor Decker, was beaten on three of them — to snap a three-game sackless streak.

Running back David Montgomery accounted for two touchdowns — one passing, one rushing — and Jahmyr Gibbs added another for Detroit, as the Lions averaged 4.1 yards per carry on the ground. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 100 yards and tight end Sam LaPorta had five catches for 92 yards and the opening score.

Browning rebounded from his anemic second half to finish 26-for-40 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase had six catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and Andrei Iosivas had five catches for 82 yards.

The Lions made it look easy from the opening drive. Jacob Saylors returned the opening kickoff to the 42-yard line, and the Lions turned the good field position into a 7-0 lead with 10:50 left in the first quarter. Tight end Sam LaPorta caught a pass in the flat, broke a tackle, and tumbled over another defender at the goal line for the score, his first touchdown of the season.

On the ensuing Bengals possession, the Lions' defense prevented an opening-drive touchdown for the first time this season.

Manu's inexperience showed up on Detroit's second possession, as he was beaten by All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who strip-sacked Goff. The Bengals took over at their own 28-yard line but punted after going three-and-out, ending the threat.

Detroit added to its lead after Robertson intercepted Browning, who was throwing from his own end zone, to give Detroit first-and-10 at the Cincinnati 17. The Lions scored in five plays, finishing the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Montgomery, a Cincinnati native, to tight end Brock Wright.

Montgomery lined up as the quarterback in a wildcat formation and tossed it up to Wright as the defenders closed in.

Aidan Hutchinson had multiple big plays negated by penalties. An early third-down sack on Browning was negated by a penalty on him for lining up in the neutral zone, and a sack of Browning for a safety was called back for a defensive holding penalty on cornerback Terrion Arnold.

The drive in which Detroit had a safety called back still ended with an interception. Joseph got underneath a third-down deep ball from Browning, the 20th interception of Joseph's career and third of the 2025 season.

Cincinnati picked up some momentum at the end of the second quarter. After moving into Detroit territory, the Bengals settled for a 50-yard field goal from kicker Evan McPherson that made it 14-3 going into halftime.

The Lions extended their lead early in the third quarter despite starting the half on defense. Browning's first attempt of the third quarter was intercepted by Anzalone, who returned it to the 17-yard line of Cincinnati. Five plays (and one holding penalty) later, Gibbs caught a screen pass in the flat and took it to the house for a 21-3 lead with 11:25 left in the third quarter.

Detroit added to its third-quarter lead, 28-3, when Montgomery ran an 8-yard touchdown in with 5:43 left. The Bengals caught a break when Alex Anzalone was called for a phantom pass interference penalty on fourth-and-3, extending the drive long enough for Browning to find Chase in the end zone to cut into the lead, 28-10, with 14:51 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bengals made the game interesting by scoring at 10:22 in the fourth quarter. Chase beat Robertson with a double move and went streaking down the sideline before taking a perfect throw to the house for a 64-yard touchdown to make it 28-17, Lions.

Isaac TeSlaa helped provide some separation with a touchdown reception with 5:14 left in the game to make it 35-17.

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