DeShone Kizer threw for 232 yards and a touchdown with Isaiah Crowell adding ninety yards with a score on the ground.
The now 0-9 Browns return home next week to host the surprising 6-3 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brownie Bits
1) The most talked about play came late in the first half with the Browns down 17-10 and with a second and goal with the Detroit two with fifteen seconds to go in the half.
Cleveland had no timeouts, so a running play that didn't make the end zone would make another play unlikely.
DeShone Kizer's quarterback draw fell short of the end zone and the clock ran out.
2) This then makes one wonder this was a called play by Hue Jackson or was it an audible called by DeShone Kizer?
Jackson took the blame after the game, but Kizer wouldn't address it.
Jackson whipped off his headset after the play and gave the appearance that it was indeed his quarterback that called the audible.
This was the second time this season that Kizer had called an audible deep in the red zone that went awry.
3) Other than that misstep, this was the best game that Kizer has played since the opener against Pittsburgh.
Kizer made some nice throws and only a Hail Mary interception kept Kizer from not turning the ball over in the game, which has been an issue of late.
4) The crunching hit that knocked Kizer from the game late in the third quarter was the turning point in the game.
Cody Kessler was overmatched in his three possessions including an overthrow of a wide open Bryce Treggs that would have been a sure score.
Kessler needs to be a third-stringer to be of value, not the main backup.
5) And give Kizer credit for returning to the game after being looked over by the medical staff.
Showing toughness and the ability to lead goes a long way with the teammates and for Kizer's future-even if it isn't with the Browns.
6) So many key plays, but the fumble by Seth DeValve that was scooped and scored by Nevin Lawson in the second quarter was also a key and although the hit was perfect to somewhat excuse the fumble, what I didn't like was the lack of Browns even remotely giving an effort to track Lawson.
7) One play that I loved was Myles Garrett's effort as he nearly sacked Matthew Stafford, slid to the turf, got up and made Stafford run into Emmanuel Ogbah for one of Ogbah's two sacks on the day.
I've made the comparison before that Ogbah will profit from Garrett and could be the Clyde Simmons (now the Browns DL coach) that was very productive for the Eagles opposite Reggie White.
8) Jamie Collins made a nice play on a first-quarter interception but was injured when he was tackled.
Collins would not return, although it is unknown if the injury will be a long-term issue.
9) The receivers continue to be a mixed bag.
Sammie Coates had a big gain early and nothing else, Kenny Britt had a score and another catch taken away from him by a penalty and Rashard Higgins held onto one catch, despite taking a huge hit,but Ricardo Louis continued to show his bad hands and David Njoku dropped two passes.
It'll be interesting to see how Corey Coleman fits in next week and if Josh Gordon can make it to the starting lineup against the Chargers.
10) The defense has been the better unit all season except for the secondary.
The three consecutive touchdown drives for the Lions in the second half decided the game and yet another long score that left Derrick Kindred and Jabrill Peppers trailing helplessly in the dust.
I know that the Browns basically have two safeties that are more in the box safeties than cover players, but seeing this same scene every game that Kindred and Peppers play together is getting really old.
11) It was nice to see the Browns finally use the promised running game that was to help make the transition easier for DeShone Kizer and it helped the Browns stay in a road game against a better team.
The Browns ran for over 200 yards as a team, Isaiah Crowell finishing with more than 90 of those.
I'd like to see more of this as the season moves on.
12) Now to 0-9 and our weekly thoughts on what can be won.
Jacksonville is a surprising 6-3 and a game that looked winnable might not be such now with the Jaguars developing a rugged defense.
The Bengals whipped the Browns in Cleveland, not sure if anything changes in Southern Ohio, although you can hope for one of those awful Andy Dalton days to change things.
The Chargers seem to be slowly turning things around and being the Browns only West Coast trip might work against them.
Before the season, Green Bay would have a certain selection for a loss, but without Aaron Rodgers and using a quarterback of the same experience as the Browns (Brett Hundley), the Packers are having trouble scoring points and this game being in Cleveland might be a chance at a win.
Baltimore is nothing special and this is in Cleveland too, so don't rule that out, but the Ravens beat the Browns handily earlier.
The Bears in Chicago might be possible as they are doing what you need to do with a rookie QB in Mitch Trubisky-Run the ball, play it safe and keep it close to hope for the best.
Pittsburgh would be a huge favorite if they played their starters, but they might have clinched the division by then and like last season play backups.
I think the Browns will get one or even two wins if everything falls perfectly, but they won't come until December as I see them being 0-12 before playing four games that they could win depending on circumstances.
13) San Francisco's win over the Giants would give the Browns the top pick if the draft was today.
The 49ers and Giants each have one win, so one win by the Browns could throw a wrench into that.
Houston continues to fade with the loss of DeShaun Watson and that pick could be a top ten pick by draft time.
As of this writing, the Texans pick would be the tenth overall...
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