The Detroit Lions beat the Cincinnati Bengals 37-24 at Paycor Stadium. This win moved Detroit to 4-1 on the season, their fourth straight victory. The Bengals fell to 2-3, their third loss in a row since quarterback Joe Burrow got hurt in Week 2.
At first, this looked like a huge blowout. Detroit led 28-3 after three quarters. But the Bengals fought back in the fourth quarter and scored 21 points, which made the final score look closer than the game actually was. Let’s look at how each player performed and what made this game special.
Game Score Summary
Detroit controlled the game from start to finish. They held the ball for more than 34 minutes, which is a big number in football. That means the Lions offense kept working while the Bengals defense stayed tired on the field.
Here is a quick look at the final numbers:
- Final score: Detroit Lions 37, Cincinnati Bengals 24
- Detroit record: 4-1
- Cincinnati record: 2-3
- Red zone success: Lions scored on 5 of 6 trips
- Sacks: Detroit defense had 4 sacks and forced a safety
Jared Goff Had a Near-Perfect Day
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff was excellent in this game. He completed 19 of his 23 passes for 258 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and did not throw a single interception, even though the Bengals sacked him four times. His passer rating was 153.0, which is close to a perfect game for a quarterback.
Goff spread the ball around well. He connected with several different receivers instead of only throwing to one target. This balance made it hard for the Bengals defense to guess where the next pass would go.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta Lead the Receivers
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had another strong game, going over 100 receiving yards. This game moved him past Brett Perriman for fourth place on the Lions’ all-time receiving yards list. He now has 5,258 career receiving yards with the team, which shows how consistent he has been since joining Detroit.
Tight end Sam LaPorta also had a big moment. He caught a 10-yard touchdown pass and had to flip over Bengals cornerback Dax Hill to reach the end zone. That score was LaPorta’s 18th career touchdown catch, which puts him fourth all-time among tight ends in Lions team history. That is an impressive number for a young player still early in his career.
David Montgomery’s Emotional Homecoming
Running back David Montgomery had one of the best days of his football life, and it was about more than just stats. Montgomery grew up close to Paycor Stadium, only about two miles away. Playing there as a visiting player, in front of family and friends, made this game personal for him.
On the field, Montgomery rushed for a touchdown and even threw a touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta on a wildcat play. That was the second passing touchdown of his career, which is rare for a running back.
Off the field, the moment meant even more. His older sister Kiki was in the stands. She had been paralyzed in a car accident back in February 2024, and this game marked her first time attending a game since then. It was a special reminder that football games are not only about numbers on a screen.
Detroit’s Defense Shut Down the Bengals for Three Quarters
The Lions defense played a huge role in this win. They picked off Bengals quarterback Jake Browning three times. Each interception was caught by a different Detroit player:
- Alex Anzalone returned his interception 14 yards
- Amik Robertson picked off a pass near the line of scrimmage
- Kerby Joseph grabbed the third interception close to the goal line
On top of the interceptions, Detroit’s defense also recorded four sacks and forced a safety. Linebacker Derrick Barnes got the sack that led to the safety late in the game, which helped seal the win. Interestingly, Barnes also grew up close to Cincinnati, so this game was a homecoming moment for him too, much like it was for Montgomery.
For three quarters, Cincinnati simply could not find a rhythm. The Bengals did not start a single drive outside their own 30-yard line until there were only about five minutes left in the fourth quarter. That shows how much control Detroit had for most of the game.
Cincinnati’s Fourth Quarter Comeback
Even though Detroit dominated most of the game, Cincinnati did not give up. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals scored 21 points in about 15 minutes, which made the final score look much closer than the actual game.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was the biggest reason for the comeback. He scored two touchdowns within just a few minutes of each other. One of his touchdowns was especially impressive. According to NFL tracking data, that catch had only a 12.5 percent chance of being completed, which was the lowest chance for any touchdown pass in the entire 2025 NFL season up to that point. Chase had very little space between himself and the defender when the ball arrived, showing off incredible timing and hands.
Quarterback Jake Browning also threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including one to wide receiver Tee Higgins. However, all three of his interceptions had already happened earlier in the game, which shows how much the slow start hurt Cincinnati’s chances.
Special Teams Also Made a Difference
Detroit’s punter, Jack Fox, quietly had a great game too. He placed four of his five punts inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line. Good field position like this makes a big difference over the course of a game, because it forces the other team to drive further to score.
What This Game Means Going Forward
This win kept Detroit’s hot streak going, moving them to 4-1 and showing they can win in different ways, through passing, rushing, and defense. For Cincinnati, this was their third straight loss since Burrow’s injury. Over that stretch, the Bengals were outscored by a wide margin, showing just how much they have missed their starting quarterback.
Games like this remind fans why player stats matter so much. The final score only tells part of the story. Looking closer at passing numbers, rushing yards, big defensive plays, and even personal storylines like Montgomery’s homecoming gives a much fuller picture of what really happened on the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the best player in the Lions vs Bengals game?
Quarterback Jared Goff had one of the best games of his season, throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Running back David Montgomery also stood out with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and an emotional homecoming performance.
What was the final score between the Lions and Bengals?
The Detroit Lions won the game 37-24 over the Cincinnati Bengals. Detroit led by a large margin for most of the game before Cincinnati scored several late touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
How many interceptions did the Bengals throw in this game?
Bengals quarterback Jake Browning threw three interceptions during the game. They were caught by three different Detroit defenders: Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson, and Kerby Joseph.
