The Detroit Lions plundered the Cleveland Browns in week 4 of the NFL 2025. Joe Flacco‘s horrific interceptions gave the Browns the advantage to build a 20-7 lead before halftime.

With this, the question remains: why did the team choose Flacco as the starter over Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders?

Flacco went 16-of-34 passing (50%) for 184 yards with a fumble and two interceptions. He posted a 39.3 passer rating. With this, HC Kevin Stefanski has made a key announcement regarding his role with the team in the future.

After these blunders and the concerning numbers, reporters asked Stefanski about changing the quarterback. “That’s not our focus. We didn’t do enough on offense,” Stefanski said. “We all share in those things. We all own it and we all have to be better,” he said on Flacco’s NFL-high 6 interceptions and 8 turnovers. The Browns don’t have a conceptually easy opponent until 19 Oct.

Joe Flacco’s stats against the Lions don’t look good, even though he completed five passes for 74 yards on Cleveland’s first drive. He’s not getting much help in the passing game.

His first interception seemed to be caused by wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Later, Harold Fannin Jr. and Jerry Jeudy dropped key passes in the second half while the Browns were still in the game.

The offensive line of the Browns is having a hard time protecting Flacco as well. The team is strong defensively against the run; however, they are not effective in the offensive running game.

Rookie Quinshon Judkins performed well, carrying the ball 21 times for 82 yards. Nevertheless, the other players only handed off the ball to the running back six times, and the total yield was minus(-) 3 yards.

Flacco’s interceptions hurt the team’s performance

Joe Flacco had a rough day on Sunday as the Browns fell to the Detroit Lions. The first major mistake came when the game was tied 7-7. Flacco dropped back and threw a pass down the left sideline, but there wasn’t anyone there.

A Lions defender easily intercepted it, making it one of the worst throws of Flacco’s career. Some of the blame may go to Cedric Tillman, who could have continued his route better, but in the end, it was still an interception.

The pick led to a 48-yard field goal by Jake Bates, giving Detroit a 10-7 lead. Flacco later threw another interception on a sideline pass to Jerry Jeudy, picked off by cornerback D.J. Reed and returned to the Cleveland 5-yard line. Amon-Ra St. Brown then scored a 2-yard touchdown, stretching Detroit’s lead to 10 points.

Cleveland took the lead early with a 1-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins on their first drive, which had six first downs. However, the offense after that drive was really in trouble, as it only managed two first downs. The Lions, meanwhile, had 10 first downs and 164 yards in the first half. Both teams had low third-down success with only 2-of-7 conversions each.

In the QB battle, Flacco lost to his counterpart. Jared Goff completed 16-of-27 for 168 yards and two touchdown passes to St. Brown. He was well supported by St. Brown as he recorded 8 receptions for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns in both the second and fourth quarters. Jahmyr Gibbs also scored a touchdown on a 41-yard run. Meanwhile, Flacco may have outrun him in the yards, but his passing rate was quite low.

On the injury front, safety Kerby Joseph is questionable to return with a knee issue. The Browns will receive the second-half kickoff as they try to mount a comeback.