Live Lions blog: Lions lose, 30-14
The Lions, after a comeback win six days ago over the Pittsburgh Steelers, struggled in their 30-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Detroit's first home game of the preseason Thursday.
Despite a good start from Matthew Stafford, who was 8-of-11 for 113 yards, and former Bengal Marvin Jones (four catches, 65 yards), the Lions (1-1) could only muster scoring on a pair of Matt Prater field goals (24, 30), and a late touchdown from Dwayne Washington (5-yard run, two-point conversion).
The Bengals (1-1) scored three touchdowns in the first half, including one on a pick-six from Dan Orlovsky, and had 292 total yards of offense and forced two interceptions and a fumble (Lions recovered the fumble).
Bengals running back Bronson Hill (Eastern Michigan) had four carries for 12 yards.
The Lions continue their preseason next Saturday with a matchup on the road against the Baltimore Ravens. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Lions score late, still down big
The Lions scored their first touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Reserve running back Dwayne Washington ran it five yards up the middle, and then took the handoff into the end zone on the two-point conversion. With 54 seconds left, the Lions are down 30-14. The Lions third-string offense converted four first downs on the 12-play, 79-yard drive.
Bengals pad lead, go up 30-6 late
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bengals padded their lead. On first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, third-string quarterback Keith Wenning scored on the quarterback keeper. The Bengals needed nine plays to complete the 31-yard scoring drive, after a short punt from Devon Bell. With 4:36 left, the Bengals lead 30-6.
Lions go three-and-out
The Lions went three-and-out after the long field goal from the Bengals, who take over at the Lions 31, after a big return from Alex Erickson -- and nice tackle from punter Devon Bell. With 8:55 left in the fourth quarter, the Bengals lead 23-6.
Bengals add to lead with 50-yard field goal
The Bengals added to their lead midway through the fourth quarter. After the Lions defense worked quickly to force fourth down, Bengals kicker Mike Nugent made a 50-yard field goal, to increase Cincinnati's lead to 23-6 with 11:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Rudock picked off
Jake Rudock entered at quarterback for the Lions, on their first drive of the fourth quarter, and immediately completed a 22-yard pass to Orson Charles. Two plays later, Rudock was picked off by Floyd Raven. The Bengals take over with 11:51 left in the fourth, and a 20-6 lead.
Bengals punt, Rudock in for Lions
The Bengals benefitted again from a lack of discipline from the Lions late in the third quarter. The Lions looked to have forced the Bengals into a three-and-out, but a roughing the passer penalty to reserve defensive lineman Kerry Hyder gave the Bengals the first down. Later in the drive, former Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill appeared to break free for a 18-yard run, but an offensive holding call erased it. Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron responded with a 10-yard pass to Alex Erickson, before connecting with Matt Lengel on the final play of the third quarter — a 7-yard pass bringing up 4th-and-2.
The Bengals punted on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Lions third-string quarterback Jake Rudock takes over under center. Lions have the ball at their own 12 with 14:50 left in the fourth quarter.
Lions offense slow to start second half
The Lions offense failed to score on their first drive of the second half. The Lions picked up a pair of first downs — on a 10-yard run from Steven Ridley and an 11-yard pass to Orson Charles. The Lions stalled in their own territory, however. An outstanding 37-yard punt from Sam Martin was downed at the Cincinnati 4. With 5:02 left in the third quarter, the Lions are down 20-6.
On the WJBK broadcast, Lions GM Bob Quinn shared with Matt Shepard and former Lion Chris Spielman, among other things, his goals with the team.
“I need to strive for patience,” Quinn said. “I want to build this thing the right way."
Flags extend Cinci drive, Nugent misses FG
The Lions defense was backed up into its own territory to start the second half. On the second play of the drive, McCarron connected with Corey Core for a gain of 13 yards. Two plays later, Lions defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson snuffed out a Cedric Peerman run, stopping him for a loss of three yards. On 2nd-and-long, McCarron scrambled for a gain of 11, but was short of the first down. The Bengals were set to punt on 4th-and-1, but the Lions had 12 players on the field — the 5-yard penalty gave the Bengals a first down.
The Lions stopped the Bengals on the first two plays after the flag, and had appeared to make the stop on third down — but a defensive pass interference flag on Johnson Bademosi again extended the drive, and took the Bengals into Lions territory.
The Bengals picked up another 15 yards on a run from Rex Bulkhead, putting the ball at the Detroit 31. The Lions defense stopped the Bengals, and forced a 45-yard field goal attempt from Mike Nugent — which was no good. With 8:40 left in the third quarter, the Lions are down 20-6.
Halftime: Bengals 20, Lions 6
The Lions defense has struggled in the first half, giving up a pair of touchdowns on long drives from the Bengals. At halftime, the Bengals lead 20-6.
Andy Dalton started at quarterback for the Bengals, going 7-of-9 for 78 yards. A.J. McCarron entered on the Bengals' final drive of the half, going 5-of-8 for 51 yards and a touchdown (12 yards to Rex Burkhead). Jeremy Hill (3 carries, 16 yards) had the other offensive touchdown for the Bengals, who also had a touchdown on a pick-six thrown by Lions backup Dan Orlovsky.
Matthew Stafford started for the Lions, going 8-of-11 for 113 yards. Matt Prater (24, 30) made a pair of field goals.
Bengals pad lead, go up 20-6 late in 2nd
The Bengals ended the first half with another touchdown. Backup A.J. McCarron entered at quarterback for the to start the drive, replacing Andy Dalton, who was 7-of-9 for 78 yards. McCarron took the Bengals into Lions territory, on an 18-yard pass to Rex Bulkhead, to the Lions 36. McCarron and Burkhead connected three plays later, on a 10-yard pass, bringing the teams to the two minute warning.
However, Lions coach Jim Caldwell challenged the play, as it appeared that Burkhead fumbled before being ruled down, which the Lions appeared to recover. After the review, the ruling was confirmed, and the Bengals maintained possession.
The Bengals lost a yard on the ensuing play, before McCarron completed a 11-yard pass to James Wright. McCarron then connected with Burkhead on a 12-yard pass to the Lions 3. Two negative plays later, McCarron found Tyler Boyd on 2nd-and-goal on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Mike Nugent made the extra point, and with 12 seconds left until halftime, the Bengals lead 20-6.
Lions settle for another FG, trail 13-6
The Lions chipped away at the Bengals' lead, after another drive stalled in the red zone. After picking up a first down on an offsides flag, the Lions got another when Orlovsky found tight end Cole Wick for a 24-yard gain. Orlovsky then connected with TJ Jones for a gain of 24, putting the Lions in the red zone for only the second time. The Lions settled for another field goal — a 30-yard field goal from Matt Prater. With 4:33 left until halftime, the Lions trail 13-6.
Orlovsky in, throws pick-six
Lions backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky's first drive came to a rather abrupt end. The Lions completed their first third down conversion of the game, after a 1-yard run from Zach Zenner. He picked up two on the previous play, after Orlovsky connected with Andre Roberts for a gain of six. Orlovsky then threw a pick-six to Deron Smith — his second in as many weeks. The Bengals missed the extra point, and with 9:30 left in the half lead 13-3.
Lions force second straight three-and-out
The Lions defense forced its second straight three-and-out on the Bengals' first drive of the second quarter. That gave the Lions offense good field position to start its next series, taking over at their own 39. With 12:45 left in the second quarter, the Lions trail 7-3.
Dan Orlovsky takes over for Matthew Stafford, who was 8-for-11 for 113 yards.
Lions punt again, are 0-3 on 3rd down
The Lions started their third drive with a 2-yard run from Theo Riddick, before Matthew Stafford connected with Golden Tate for a gain of 19. Stafford and Marvin Jones then connected for a gain of nine, on the final play of the first quarter. On 2nd-and-1, the Lions committed a false start infraction, making it 2nd-and-6. They got three yards back on a short run from Riddick, but could not convert the first down as Riddick dropped a short pass from Stafford. The Lions punted, and the Bengals will take over at their own 14 after the fair catch. With 14:13 left in the first half, the Bengals are up 7-3.
The Lions are currently 0-for-3 on third down.
Lions force three-and-out
The Lions defense responded on its second drive, forcing the Bengals to go three-and-out. The Bengals were about the length of a chain short of the first down, but couldn’t convert. The Lions, after returning the second punt to their own 24 (offsetting flags negated the first) take over, trailing 7-3 with 1:26 left in the first quarter.
Lions stall on second drive
The Lions second drive was not nearly as productive as their first. After a short run from Theo Roddick, and a 10-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Golden Tate gave the Lions a first down, they were faced with a 3rd-and-15 after Carlos Dunlap forced a Stafford fumble that Riddick recovered. A 5-yard pre-snap flag on the Bengals brought the ball back to a manageable 3rd-and-10, but the Lions could not get another first down. The Lions punted the ball away, and the Bengals take over at their own 29, leading 7-3 with 3:04 left in the first quarter.
Bengals respond with early TD
The Bengals marched their way into the end zone on their first drive.
Quarterback Andy Dalton found Tyler Boyd (26 yards) and A.J. Green (15 yards) on big pass plays, putting the Bengals in Lions territory, before Jeremy Hill (8-yard run) and Ben Tate (14-yard catch) put them inside the Lions 10. Hill scored on a 9-yard run, giving the Bengals the lead. The extra point put the Bengals up 7-3 with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
The scoring drive went 74 yards in eight plays, taking 4:09.
Lions take early lead on Prater FG
The Lions were methodical on their first drive.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Anquan Boldin on the first play from scrimmage — for a 6-yard gain. Theo Riddick (6-yard run) and Golden Tate (12-yard catch) then picked up first downs on consecutive plays. Two plays later, Stafford found former Bengal Marvin Jones for a gain of 32. The two connected on the next play for a 19-yard pass-and-catch, before picking up five more on a pass to the Cincinnati 10-yard line. The Lions stalled in the red zone, settling for a 24-yard field goal from Matt Prater. With 9:57 left in the first quarter, the Lions lead 3-0.
The Lions went 79 yards in 10 plays, taking 5:03 off the clock on their first drive.
How to watch: Lions vs. Bengals
The Lions open the home portion of their preseason at 7:30 p.m. against the Cincinnati Bengals.
A pair of Lions — receiver Marvin Jones and defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry — played for the Bengals from 2012 until they signed with the Lions this past offseason. Justin Rogers says both players are treating the game as they would any other, and aren't giving their former team any special consideration.
The Lions this week signed tight end Andrew Quarless, who faces a two-game suspension for a weapons charge, which set off some interesting discussion as to what "zero tolerance" really means when it comes to general manager Bob Quinn's policy on players and crimes involving weapons.
Also from Justin Rogers comes five things to look for in the Lions' second preseason matchup.
Planning on heading to Ford Field this season? Take a look at some of the newest edible offerings, including a big blue doughnut.
Here's a look back at this week's Lions mailbag.
Check back for updates as the game goes on.
How to watch: Lions vs. Bengals
When: 7:30 p.m., Thursday
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
Local TV: WJBK-TV
National TV: NFL Network (tape delay)
Local Radio: 760 AM
Satellite Radio: XM 225