DETROIT There was no way Cleveland Browns defensive players could sugar coat their performance in the 38-37 loss to the Lions.

While the offense easily had its best day of the season, the defense self destructed after being handed a 24-3 lead in the first quarter. The collapse was strange when factoring in the defense's improved play in recent games.

"They (the Lions) have a lot of great players on that team, but it's not like we saw (receiver) Calvin Johnson jump over somebody and make one of those fantastic plays that he can make," cornerback Eric Wright said. "We just literally gave them plays. Short plays they would turn into big plays. Deep plays."

Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford had his coming-out party in the NFL. He completed 26-of-43 passes for 422 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Johnson, one of the NFL's best receivers, had 11 receptions for 161 yards, including a 75-yard pass play for a touchdown.

"We made him (Stafford) look like Peyton Manning at quarterback," Wright said. "He's actually a good quarterback, but I think he's still developing. We didn't do our job. It's ridiculous."

Linebacker David Bowens, who's played well in moving from the outside to an inside spot after injuries to D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton, took blame for the loss. That might be a bit harsh considering he was second in tackles with six, and he had a sack.

"It's our fault," Bowens said. "If you want to blame somebody, blame me. I have to take responsibility as captain of this defense. The offense did a great job. They scored enough points for us to win. It's totally on us."

• OUCH: Stafford hurt a shoulder on the play before his game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew with no time remaining in the game. He was replaced temporarily by Daunte Culpepper, but a timeout by the Browns allowed Stafford to re-enter the game.

"I heard the timeout over the loudspeaker and knew that was probably my only chance to get back in," Stafford said. "It was my left shoulder, and I really don't need it to throw."

• WHY THE TIMEOUT?: The timeout seemed like a strange call. You'd have assumed the Browns wanted Culpepper, who came off the bench cold, to take the snap instead of Stafford.

"It was more a function of wanting to make sure we had the right personnel and we wanted to take a look at what they were going to do," Browns coach Eric Mangini said. "I thought it was a good idea to use it, look at it and get the guys in spots we thought they needed to be in."

• RACKING THEM UP: The 24 points scored in the first quarter by the Browns were the most in an opening period in team history. The Browns scored 21 points in the first quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 3, 1961.

• SEASON BESTS: The Browns produced season-highs for net yards with 439 and net passing yards with 308. They didn't commit a turnover for the first time since a 29-27 win at Buffalo last season.

• NOT A SURPRISE: Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi wasn't caught off guard by Stafford's big day. The two were teammates at the University of Georgia.

"I've seen him do it time and time again," Massaquoi said. "We competed at Georgia and had fun. With a guy like him, you can never count him out."

• MOVING UP: Kicker Phil Dawson took sole possession of second place on the Browns' career field-goal list with a 44-yard kick in the first quarter. He added a 29-yard field to increase his career total to 218, passing Don Cockfroft. Lou Groza is the career leader with 234.

• WATCH THIS: Running back Jerome Harrison was among the inactive players for the Browns. Harrison isn't injured, which led to speculation that Mangini was sending him a message.

Harrison appeared upset in the locker room last week. He turned down a request for an interview, saying that he better not say what was on his mind. Mangini was asked about Harrison at a press conference the next day.

• ON THE SIDE: Receiver Brian Robiskie continues to struggle to make a mark in his rookie season. Robiskie, who has only one reception, was deactivated for the third time this season. He didn't play in either of the first two games but was active the next seven games.

• FAMILIAR FACE: Former Browns receiver/punt returner Dennis Northcutt is with the Lions. Northcutt was the Browns second-round draft choice in 2000. He spent seven seasons with the team before signing with Jacksonville as a free agent in 2007. Northcutt had returned 13 punts for a 9.2-yard average with a long of 43 yards before Sunday's game.

• INACTIVES: Inactive players for the Browns included Harrison, defensive back Coye Francies, linebacker David Veikune, offensive lineman Billy Yates, Robiskie, receiver Jake Allen and linebacker Arnold Harrison.

mmclain@tribtoday.com