Photo: Katie Stratman ~ Imagn Images
CINCINNATI, Ohio ~ The Detroit Lions opened their preseason Thursday night with a hard-fought 16-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, but the score hardly told the full story. In a game dominated by reserves and players competing for roster spots, Detroit fell behind 16-6 before mounting a late comeback that nearly stole the win. The Lions outgained Cincinnati 291-273 in total yards and averaged five yards per carry, but three turnovers ultimately proved too much to overcome.
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(CONTINUED) One of Detroit’s brightest spots was the running game. Jabari Saylors led the Lions with 55 rushing yards on eight carries, while quarterback Luke Altmyer endured an uneven outing, finishing 13 of 22 for 130 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The defense also delivered encouraging moments, particularly from second-year edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein, who recorded two sacks and consistently disrupted Cincinnati’s backfield. Kicker Jake Bates kept Detroit within striking distance with field goals of 41 and 52 yards.
The Lions finally found the end zone with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Altmyer connected with wide receiver Tarik Black on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Altmyer then converted the 2-point attempt himself to cut the deficit to 16-14 and set up a dramatic finish. Detroit regained possession in the closing seconds, but a late interception sealed the Bengals’ victory. Despite the loss, the preseason opener provided valuable reps for young players fighting for roster spots and featured several promising performances. The Lions will host the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 22, in their second preseason game.
