Week 4 Staff Predictions – Browns at Lions

Week 4 has arrived, and while the Lions might be tempted to look at this game and think they finally have a non-drama cupcake in the Browns, but that could be anything further than the truth. Former Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz has the Browns Defense humming, ranked No 1 in total yards given up so far through three weeks. However, Dan Campbell gets his team back at home after 2 of 3 on the road (against the Packers and Ravens no less) and this team has a chip on their shoulder still after getting blown out by the Packers and disrespected against the Ravens. The two teams haven't met since 2021 in Cleveland, a 13-10 Browns win, because the Lions got good, and the Browns remained....well the Browns. It will come down to the No 1 Defense in the Browns vs the No 2 Offense in the Lions. On to the picks....

Week 3 is done, and we have a clear leader in Brent. Not only is he 2-1 in his picks, but his point total predictions for the Lions through three games was spot on at 103. Dan is second at 2-1 and a 17 pt diff, Chris is 3rd at 1-2 with a 21 pt diff and Mike is looking to move up this week but is currently sitting in last at 1-2 with a 21 pt difference.

Mike

The Detroit Lions face the Cleveland Browns our AFC friends from across the lake. The Lions are 9.5 favorites. The Browns have the # 1 Defense by yards allowed. They have 11 sacks on the year and only average 2.2 yards allowed per rush. The Browns Defense is stout. This will be a showdown of a Great Defense vs the Great Offense of the Lions. The Game is in Ford Field which has become one of the best homefields in the NFL over the last 3 years. The Browns have not faced an offense the caliber of the Lions. For the Browns Offense have only scored 5 total TDs this year.

The Lions will still have to play great defense and stop the rookie Judkins from having a big day and make the Browns throw the ball. I think the Lions will be able to do that. Home Field and fired up team from a big MNF win earlier this week reeks of a Trap game for the Lions. I think Dan Campbell and the guys are going to be focused and fired up. Lions win going away this week.

Lions 31 - Browns 17

Brent

he 2025 Detroit Lions are a team to be reckoned with. The youth of the past two years is gone with the exceptions of Tate Ragland and Tyler Williams. The uber talented Detroit Lions now have experienced the highs of a 12-5 and 15-2 seasons and the experience of winning two playoff games and losing in a shocking upset to end the 2024 season. The Lions know how to turn it on when they need to and now believe they are the most talented team in the NFL. Winning on the road in Baltimore, ups the ante to a whole new level. This team is confident, experiences, and talented across the entire roster. They have fewer holes than any team in the NFL and know it.

The Cleveland Browns come to town facing a juggernaut Detroit Lions football team. Their only hope is to hold the Lions offense to 10 points or less. While the Browns have a solid, maybe even elite, front seven, they must score to keep this game close. The Lions will take advantage of the Browns using the play action game to keep the linebacking corps from dropping into the passing lanes. This will give Jared Goff time to diagnose the passing lanes and take advantage of the Browns secondary. The key to this game is the ability to hold up at the offense tackle giving Goff time. My bet is on Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.

Defensively, the Lions will continue to clean up the secondary by giving Amik Roberston more time on the outside motivating Terrion Arnold to pick up his game. The tactic will prove successful. The Lions will use a stout running defense to knock off the Cleveland Browns 38-10. Of note, the Detroit Lions have never scored 90 points in back-to-back games until the past two weeks against the Bears and Ravens. The offense is held below the 45 point average but don’t be surprised if they surpass the amount again this week.

Lions 38, Browns 10

Chris

Fresh off that Monday night masterpiece against Baltimore, the Lions face every championship team's biggest challenge: staying locked in against inferior competition. Dan Campbell's already preaching focus because he knows what happens when teams start believing their own hype.

Cleveland's defense ranks first in the league, but let's be honest about what they're working with offensively. Quinshon Judkins is their only legitimate threat, which means Kelvin Sheppard can stack the box and dare Joe Flacco to beat us through the air. Spoiler alert: he can't.

This feels like a perfect setup for Terrion Arnold to announce himself with his first career pick. Flacco's going to test our young corners, and Arnold's going to make him pay for it. Meanwhile, our offense does just enough in what becomes a surprisingly defensive slugfest.

The emotional letdown never materializes because Campbell won't let it happen.

Lions 24, Browns 13

Dan

I have seen this being called a trap game for the Lions, as the Browns are 1-2, with a great defense and a bad offense and the Lions are coming off a massive Monday night win over the Ravens. Personally, I think that won't be the case, as the Lions saw what the Browns did to the Packers last Sunday, which is the same team that manhandled the Lions in Week 1 at Lambeau. Campbell will have the team ready to play, and this will be Offense of the Lions vs Defense of the Browns.

Speaking of the Cleveland Defense, they may be No 1 in the league in yards allowed at 204.3, but they are very pedestrian at Pts allowed, tied for 18th best at 22.7 per game. keep in mind, before beating the Packers, the Browns were humbled in M&T Bank Stadium by the Ravens, giving up 41 pts, mainly to Lamar Jacksons Arm, while going all out to stuff the run. The Lions aren't one dimensional, they can run it down your throat, run it outside, quick pass you to death or throw it over the top. The Browns will struggle to stay ahead of the Lions Offense the entire game IMO. As for the Browns Offense, its abysmal. Bottom third in yards per game, 30th in Pts per game (15.3) and middle of the pack at best in most major offensive categories.

As for the Lions, they are coming off a second straight magnificent offensive performance, with no signs of letting up. The OL has jelled nicely, keeping Goff clean and crating running lanes for the backs and imposing their will against both the Bears and ravens. With the Browns best DBs defense banged up in Safety Grant Delpit and CB Denzel Ward, they will need their depth guys to step up to contain LaPorta, St Brown, Williams and whichever other weapon gets loose in the Browns back seven. I just don't see it for an entire game. The Lions defense should absolutely feast, as Flacco is a statue back there and Sheppard has been doing a masterful job of adjusting in game to keep the defense pressure on.

Bottom line, I don't see the Browns being in the game unless their defense/ST puts up 14 points, as the Lions have too much fire power and can attack a beat-up browns back-seven relentlessly with RBs, TE and WRs. If the Lions score 17 pts, they should win this one, but I think they will drop the hammer on the Browns by doubling them up to continue their streak of 30+ pt. games.

Lions 34, Ravens 17