Cairns: Browns open preseason with win in Detroit

DETROIT, Ohio - The Browns preseason opens Friday night in Detroit. This contest marks the 44th meeting between these two teams in the Great Lakes Classic.

The Lions hold a 24-18-1 edge in the series, which the Browns last won in 2009.

Last year, Colt McCoy became the first Browns quarterback to throw three touchdowns in a Browns preseason game since 1984. The Browns fell at home 30-28. The game also marks the preseason debut of rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden who will play the first quarter.

Weeden will be without fellow first-round draft pick Trent Richardson, who was sent to Florida to have a minor procedure performed on his knee and will miss the entire preseason. Weeden will have plenty of other weapons with wide receiver Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin, both making their debuts as well.

Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden got off to a very good start hitting Mohamed Massaquoi on his first pass of the night for twelve yards, then two plays later connecting with Travis Benjamin down the left sideline for thirty four yards

After a false start by rookie tackle Mitchell Schwartz backed the Browns up to a third and 15, Lions defensive end Willie Young beat Schwartz and created a Brandon Weeden fumble recovered by the Lions.

Browns first takeaway of the preseason came from 11 year veteran defensive back Sheldon Brown who intercepted Matthew Stafford at the Browns 14 yard line and returned it 25 yards to bail the Browns out.

Weeden would make his first mistake in his final series of the first quarter, staring down Greg Little on a third and three only to have his pass picked off by Dwight Bentley and returned nine yards to the Browns 26 yard line. Weeden would finish the night 3 for 9 for 62 yards and one interception and one fumble.

Pat Shurmur on Brandon Weeden's first pre season game: "I thought Brandon did a good job. It looked like the game was slow for him. He was out there and executed pretty well. I think he would want that one back on the interception. It was in tight coverage. The ball was a pretty good ball and we've got to make that play. I think for the most part he executed in a way that I thought he would. Now there are other things we have to clean up, too many penalties,turning the ball over,some of that stuff we have to make sure we get cleaned up".

Three plays later Keiland Williams would take it in five yards for the score and the Lions would strike first with one minute to play in the first quarter.

Lions 7 Browns 0.

Browns would finally get on the board after a 42 yard hookup from Colt McCoy to Jordan Cameron led to a 37 yard field goal from Phil Dawson with 7:21 to go in the first half.

Lions 7 Browns 3.

Lions would put together a 12 play 80 yard drive in just over five minutes, finished off by a three yard touchdown pass from Shaun Hill to Stefan Logan.

Lions 14 Browns 3.

Lions 14 Browns 3 Half

Colt McCoy was 5 for 7 for 73 yards and ran the ball once for 20 yards. His quarterback rating was 105.1.

Both Browns lines struggled. The offensive line could not run the football or move the ball consistently. The defensive line was porous. Injuries and lack of depth reared its ugly head here in the first half.

Browns scored twice in the second half. A third quarter touchdown pass from Seneca Wallace to Brad Smelley and a three yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter by Brad Smelley.

Jeff Wolfert's fieldgoal with 28 seconds was the difference in this one.

Browns 19 Lions 17 FINAL

Pat Shurmur told his young guys before the game to "Relax and have fun out there" Shurmur even going for a two point conversion in the fourth quarter after an Adonis Smith touchdown was pleased with his teams effort afterwards.

Injuries were the story of this game for an already thin Browns squad. Mohamed Massaquoi was held out per league guidelines and based on his concussion history the team was not taking any chances.

The Browns will have Saturday off and go back to work on Sunday in Berea. The Browns have a scheduled 2-4:30pm practice.

Browns Scratches Friday night: Usama Young, Trent Richardson, Eddie Williams, Chris Gocong, D'Qwell Jackson, Marcus Bernard, Ahtyba, Ben Watson, Frostee Rucker, and Phil Taylor.

Check back in to newsnet5.com during the game for updates and follow Mike Cairns on Twitter for in game updates and pictures @MikeCairns5