The Detroit Lions will return home to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season on Sunday. Both teams are coming off a win last week, both defeating elite teams in Week 3. Which team will continue its winning ways in this contest? Continue reading to get my Browns vs Lions prediction for Sunday.
Our Browns vs Lions Pick
- Pick: Cleveland Browns +8.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Cleveland Browns vs Detroit Lions
- Date & Time: Sunday, September 28, 2025, 1:00 PM EDT
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- Broadcast: FOX
Browns vs Lions Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| DET -8.5 | DET -400 / CLE +300 | 44.5 |
Key Storylines
- Detroit’s Offensive Firepower vs Cleveland’s Defense
The Lions have shown they can score fast and in bunches. Jared Goff is coming off a huge performance in Week 3 that helped the Lions upset the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s defense has been excellent. Myles Garrett get constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and the Browns forced late turnovers and made key special teams plays in their Week 3 win over the Packers. The question is whether Cleveland can sustain its level on defense against a high-octane Lions offense. - Cleveland’s Offensive Struggles and Line Issues
Joe Flacco remains the starter at quarterback for Cleveland. He’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns so far this season, and consistency has been lacking. The Browns also lost starting offensive tackle Dawand Jones for the season, which weakens their pass protection and run blocking. The Lions’ pass rush and interior line play could make life very tough for Cleveland’s offense. - Home Field and Momentum
Detroit is at home, which tends to lead to sharper execution, especially in offense. But Detroit is also on a short prep week going into this game after playing on Monday Night Football in Week 3. Which of those factors outweighs the other will be interesting to monitor.
Quarterback Play
Jared Goff has begun the season sharply for the Lions. Goff torched the Ravens on Monday night, converting third downs regularly to Sam LaPorta and hitting big plays to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions’ offense looks balanced and confident when Goff has time and rhythm. Having a running game that scored four touchdowns against Baltimore will only help Goff continue to perform.
On Cleveland’s side, Joe Flacco has struggled with turnovers. He has two touchdown passes and four interceptions through three games. Flacco will have to try and overcome both Detroit’s defense and his own turnover issues to keep pace with Detroit’s scoring.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Both teams are 2-1 against the spread going into this week.
- Detroit has gone over the total in two of their first three games.
- Two of the Browns’ three games have stayed under their totals.
Browns vs Lions Model Projection
Score Projection: Detroit Lions 24 – Cleveland Browns 17
Win Probability: Detroit 78%, Cleveland 22%
Final Thoughts
I don’t think that the Browns will win on the road this week, as their lack of a consistent passing attack will continue to hurt them. But I do think that the Browns can cover the spread in this game. Cleveland’s defense might be the best in football and pressure from Garrett could lead to mistakes from Goff. I’ll take the points with the Browns in a game that should be decided by about a touchdown.
