By Blessing 
The Lions Just Sent a Message — 8 Takeaways from Detroit’s 37-24 Win Over the Bengals
The Detroit Lions continued their hot streak on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 37-24 in a game full of momentum swings, injuries, and standout moments. It marked their third straight matchup against an AFC North opponent, and once again, the Lions showed why they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Detroit came out strong, scoring on their first drive of the game. For the first time this season, the defense responded with a quick stop on the opponent’s opening drive. By halftime, the Lions held a 14-3 lead, thanks to solid defense that created opportunities, though the offense missed chances to fully capitalize.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Detroit seemed in total control with a 28-3 advantage — until the Bengals clawed their way back to within 11 points, trimming the lead to 28-17. The Lions responded like a playoff team should, extending the lead to 35-17 before Cincinnati scored again to make it 35-24. Detroit sealed the win with a late-game safety to walk out with a 37-24 victory.
It wasn’t perfect, but this game was full of telling moments. Here are eight key takeaways from the Lions’ win in Cincinnati.
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1. Giovanni Manu Gets His Welcome to the NFL Moment
For weeks, veteran tackle Taylor Decker had been playing through injury despite missing practices. This time, Detroit decided to rest him, downgrading him from questionable to doubtful on Sunday morning. That meant Giovanni Manu, a second-year player, was thrown into the spotlight for his first NFL start — and against one of the league’s better pass rushers, Trey Hendrickson.
Manu started off strong, holding his own on the opening drive. But on the next possession, Hendrickson beat him cleanly for a strip sack on Jared Goff, which gave the Bengals a short field. Manu recovered and played solidly for most of the game until late in the fourth quarter, when another blown block led to a sack by Joseph Ossai, pushing the Lions out of field-goal range.
Those two mistakes hurt, especially as they came at crucial moments. Still, for a player making his first start under pressure, Manu’s performance was respectable. Detroit’s defense bailed him out with a safety late in the game to close it out.
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2. Punt Return Role Uncertain After Kalif Raymond Injury
Early in the first quarter, Kalif Raymond took a hard hit during a punt return and left the game with a neck injury. He didn’t return, forcing rookie receiver Dominic Lovett to step in as the team’s punt returner.
Neck injuries are always scary, though reports after the game suggested encouraging signs for Raymond. If he does miss time, Lovett appears next in line, but Detroit could test out other options as well.
Raymond’s absence could have ripple effects beyond special teams. It might open the door for Isaac TeSlaa, Jackson Meeks, or even Tom Kennedy from the practice squad to see increased playing time.
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3. Short-Handed Secondary Shines — Until Late
The Lions were shorthanded in the secondary, playing without starting corner D.J. Reed, who landed on IR earlier in the week, and Khalil Dorsey, who was inactive. Midway through the game, Terrion Arnold exited with a shoulder injury, leaving Detroit with just four healthy cornerbacks: Arnold, Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and newly signed Tre Flowers.
Despite that, the group was stellar for most of the game. Robertson intercepted Jake Browning while covering Ja’Marr Chase, setting up the Lions in the red zone. Ya-Sin then broke up a key pass to Tee Higgins, forcing a punt. Later, Kerby Joseph jumped a deep ball — practically taking it from Arnold’s hands — for another interception.
Detroit’s secondary finished with two interceptions and seven pass breakups, a testament to their resilience despite depleted depth.
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4. But Injuries Keep Mounting in the Secondary
The downside of the day? More injuries in the defensive backfield. Arnold’s shoulder injury kept him out for the remainder of the game, and Ya-Sin left the field twice with apparent issues. That left Flowers to play extended snaps, though the Bengals rarely tested him.
Last season, injuries hit the Lions across multiple positions. This year, they’re concentrated in one — the secondary. That’s dangerous territory with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs coming up next week. Detroit’s front seven relies heavily on tight coverage from its corners, and against elite quarterbacks, they can’t afford a patchwork unit.
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5. Aidan Hutchinson Dominates (Even If the Stats Don’t Show It)
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had a game full of frustration and dominance. He had two sacks wiped out by penalties — one for being offside, and another due to a questionable holding call on Arnold. That second one would have been a safety, but the flag erased it.
Still, Hutchinson made his presence felt all afternoon. He finished with nine pressures, four tackles, one sack, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble.
He now has three sacks nullified by penalties this season, which doesn’t reflect his impact. The young star is quietly playing elite football again, proving that his relentless effort and technique continue to anchor Detroit’s defense.
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6. David Montgomery Shines in a Special Homecoming
This one was emotional. David Montgomery, who grew up near Cincinnati, delivered one of his most memorable games as a Lion — in front of family and friends.
He rushed 18 times for 65 yards and a touchdown and even threw a touchdown pass to tight end Brock Wright on a trick play. FOX Sports captured the human side of it, interviewing Montgomery about returning home and dedicating his performance to his sister, who was paralyzed in a car accident.
Montgomery said he wanted to make her proud — and he did. Seeing him shine on his home turf added a heartfelt layer to the Lions’ win.
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7. Officials Didn’t Make It Easy for Detroit
Penalties have been a problem for Detroit lately, but this week, officiating didn’t do them any favors either. The Lions were flagged eight times for 56 yards, though only about half seemed legitimate.
One of the worst calls came on a defensive holding penalty against Arnold that erased what should’ve been a safety. Replays showed minimal contact, yet the flag flew anyway. Another questionable call came on Graham Glasgow, who appeared to make a clean block but was still hit with holding.
Then there were two pass interference penalties — on Arnold and Alex Anzalone — that extended a Bengals drive and led directly to a touchdown. Between losing a safety and gifting Cincinnati a score, that’s roughly a nine-point swing that made the final score closer than it should have been.
Without those officiating errors, this game probably ends as a comfortable 22-point Lions win instead of 13.
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8. Offensive Struggles Becoming a Real Concern
For the second straight week, Detroit’s offense sputtered. Last week against Cleveland, they needed their defense and special teams to score touchdowns to put the game away. This week, even with three turnovers forced by the defense, the offense looked inconsistent.
Detroit cashed in on two of those short-field opportunities but struggled to sustain long drives. After Goff’s early fumble, momentum stalled. By halftime, the Lions had scored just one additional touchdown.
It’s hard to pinpoint the issue — protection breakdowns, missed assignments, or play-calling rhythm — but something’s off. Against weaker teams, Detroit’s overall talent can overcome that. Against top-tier opponents like Kansas City or Tampa Bay, it could be costly.
The Lions don’t need to score on every drive, but they need smoother execution and better finishing. If they clean that up, this team has the potential to make serious noise down the stretch.
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Final Thoughts
The Lions’ 37-24 win over the Bengals was far from flawless — but it was gritty, emotional, and telling. Between injuries, officiating chaos, and offensive lapses, Detroit still found a way to take control when it mattered most.
Montgomery’s homecoming, Hutchinson’s persistence, and the secondary’s resilience all stand out as moments that define a maturing football team.
They’ll need that same energy next week against the defending Super Bowl champions. Because if this game proved anything, it’s that the Detroit Lions can win even when they don’t play their best — and that’s the mark of a real contender.