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NOTEBOOK: Lions preparing for tough test in Browns' defense

The Detroit Lions' offense has been rolling the last two weeks in wins over the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.

Detroit has racked up 937 total yards of offense and has scored 90 points the last two outings. The last time a Lions' offense has generated at least 900 yards and 90 points in back-to-back contests was 1950.

The offense will certainly be tested Sunday at Ford Field as the Lions welcome in a Cleveland defense ranked among the league's best. The Browns (1-2) are No. 1 in total defense (204.3), No. 1 against the run (57.3) and No. 4 against the pass (147.0).

After keeping quarterback Jared Goff clean with no sacks allowed the last two weeks, Detroit's offensive line squares off against Myles Garrett and an aggressive and productive defensive front. Garrett has a sack in each of Cleveland's first three contests.

"A lot of people, when they talk about Cleveland, a lot of people focus on what's happening on the edge. Their ability to rush the passer," Lions assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said Wednesday. "Our main focus is not just the edge, of course a lot of respect for the edge players, but when you look at their interior and how their defensive tackles pierce the line of scrimmage."

Montgomery said Detroit's offensive front must get off the ball, play with good pad level and play physical.

Cleveland does a good job putting pressure on the run and pass games because they are super talented at all three levels of their defense.

"They are sound, they play hard and they rush hard," Goff said Wednesday. "Obviously, Myles (Garrett) is a big part of that. They are really good in the backend. They're kind of good at every spot and that's what these defenses typically are and they are no different."

The Browns have generated the most negative plays (26) on defense in the NFL this season. They are the No. 1 defense in football on first down, allowing on average under three yards per play, which puts teams behind the sticks and allows them to play an attacking style.

"When you watch them on film, they are flying off the ball and they are a penetrating front," center Graham Glasgow said. "Half the time they are playing the run on way to the quarterback, and they look impressive."

SEWELL/O-LINE DOMINATION

All-Pro Lions right tackle Penei Sewell had about as dominating a performance Week 3 in Baltimore as an offensive lineman can have.

Sewell earned a 99.3 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade, which is the highest single-game PFF run-blocking grade given out in the PFF era (since 2006) among those with 10 or more snaps. Sewell's 98.7 overall grade was tops among all offensive linemen in the NFL this past week.

In fact, it was a stellar afternoon for the entire Lions front after racking up 224 rushing yards, 426 total yards and allowing zero sacks of Goff on the evening. Rookie guard Tate Ratledge's 91.4 overall grade was fourth best among offensive linemen in Week 3 and left tackle Taylor Decker (82.9) was graded ninth best. That's three offensive linemen graded in the top 10 among all NFL linemen Week 3.

Detroit's offensive line moved up from 16 to 10 in PFF's offensive line ranking heading into Week 4.

View photos of the starters for the Cleveland Browns.

RECEIVER BLOCKING

Montgomery was the receivers coach in Pittsburgh from 2010-12 when arguably the best blocking receiver in the history of the game, Hines Ward, was a Steeler.

Ward combined both physicality and 'want to' as a blocker in the run game that has really been unmatched until now. Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown has become the standard in the NFL currently for a receiver showing physicality as a run blocker.

While St. Brown is the standard, it's a mindset the entire Lions receiver room has adopted and it's manifesting itself in their play on the field. Monday's game is a great example. Jameson Williams had a key block to spring David Montgomery’s 31-yard touchdown late. Kalif Raymond had a couple key blocks in the run game, as did St. Brown.

"That's what all those receivers do in that room, they set the tone," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "They're very much a part of that run game, and they own it. They take pride in it."

Montgomery didn't think he'd come across another unit that took as much pride in run blocking as those Steelers did led by Ward. This current Lions group has changed his mind.

"Collectively, I would say this group is by far from top to bottom the best I've been around," Montgomery said.

EXTRA POINT

The Lions signed tight end Ross Dwelley to the active roster from the practice squad on Monday and signed defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson to the practice squad.

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