CLEVELAND (AP) – Matthew Stafford threw three of his four touchdown passes in the second half, rallying the Detroit Lions to a 31-17 win over the Browns on Sunday.
The Lions (4-2) outscored the Browns 24-0 in the second half, sealing their win when Stafford hooked up with tight end Joseph Fauria with 2:01 left. Fauria caught three TD passes for the Lions, who played like a completely different team in the second half after being dominated up front and trailing 17-7 at half.
The Browns (3-3) had their chances at a comeback end when quarterback Brandon Weeden’s baffling shovel pass with 4:36 left was intercepted by linebacker DeAndre Levy.
“It was just a boneheaded play. I was trying to make a play,” Weeden said.
He says he was trying to flip the ball over running back Chris Ogbonnaya’s head while trying to avoid a sack when he Levy picked off the pass.
Making his first start since Brian Hoyer’s injury, Weeden was 26 of 43 for 292 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, both by Levy.
Lions running back Reggie Bush finished with 135 total yards, 121 in the second half.
Stafford finished 25 of 43 for 248 yards.