CINCINNATI – All three phases – offense, defense and special teams – had a big hand in the Detroit Lions' 37-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon that improved Detroit's record to 4-1 on the season with their fourth straight victory.
Detroit's defense recorded three interceptions which the offense turned into 14 points. Cornerback Amik Robertson, safety Kerby Joseph and linebacker Alex Anzalone all recorded interceptions for Detroit's defense. Joseph's was the 20th of his career as he joined Hall of Famer Ed Reed as the only safeties since 2000 to record at least 20 interceptions in their first four seasons.
Linebacker Derrick Barnes recorded a sack and a safety late in the fourth quarter to round out Detroit's scoring.
Offensively, Detroit's running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery had a huge impact. Montgomery threw a 3-yard touchdown to tight end Brock Wright and also rushed for an 8-yard score. Gibbs caught a 20-yard touchdown from quarterback Jared Goff, who also tossed touchdown passes to tight end Sam LaPorta and rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
Montgomery and Gibbs scored touchdowns in the same game for the 14th time, which ties an NFL record for the most games in which each member of a running back duo has produced a scrimmage touchdown. Montgomery (65) and Gibbs (54) combined to rush for 119 yards in the contest.
Detroit's special teams also played a factor in the win. Punter Jack Fox dropped three punts inside the Bengals' 10-yard line in the first half to put the Bengals at a severe field position disadvantage all half. Fox had four punts total drop inside the Bengals' 10-yard line in the game. Detroit's coverage units were good all day as Cincinnati didn't start a drive outside their 30-yard line until five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati got touchdowns from wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (2) and Tee Higgins.
QB comparison: Goff completed 19 of his 23 pass attempts in the contest for 258 yards with three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 153.0 passer rating. He lost a fumble and was sacked four times in the game.
Bengals quarterback Jake Browning finished 26-of-40 passing for 251 yards with three touchdowns, three interceptions and a rating of 76.1. He was sacked twice by Aidan Hutchinson and Barnes.
Impact moment(s): All three phases played a big part in a key stretch in the second quarter in Detroit's win.
First, when the Lions were forced to punt from their own 34-yard line to start the second quarter, Fox booted a 63-yarder that was beautifully downed at the Cincinnati 3-yard line on a nice play by TeSlaa.
On Cincinnati's first play of the subsequent series, Robertson stepped in front of a Browning pass at the Cincinnati 19-yard line giving the offense terrific field position inside the Bengals' red zone.
It took the offense just four plays from there to punch it into the end zone on a Montgomery to Wright touchdown pass and a 14-0 Lions lead.
Key stat: The biggest factor between winning and losing in most football games is the turnover battle.
The Lions forced three Bengals turnovers and committed only one themselves.
Star performance: LaPorta recorded his first touchdown of the season while racking up 92 receiving yards on five receptions.
LaPorta now has 18 career touchdown receptions, the fourth-most by any tight end in franchise history.
Injury report: Wide receiver and returner Kalif Raymond left the game in the first quarter after suffering a neck injury on a punt return. He did not return to the game. Rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett took over punt return duties the rest of the game.
Cornerback Terrion Arnold left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury and did not return. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin left the game in the second half with a injury. He returned briefly but then left again and did not return.
Joseph also left the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return.
Up next: at Kansas City. Sun., Oct. 12, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
