Finally, the Lions had some momentum. D'Andre Swift had just scored a 57-yard touchdown. The defense had just forced a three and out. And now Swift had just ripped off another good run to give the Lions a first down in Browns' territory, trailing 13-7 entering the fourth. Then Jonah Jackson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct between quarters and the momentum was gone when play resumed.
Instead of first and 10 from Cleveland's 42, the Lions faced first and 25 from their own 43. Three plays later, their drive was over. They would lose 13-10.
"First of all, I should have never even put my team in that situation," said Jackson, Detroit's left guard. "But it was the heat of the moment, heat of the game."
According to Dan Campbell, who got an explanation from the officials, Jackson said "something about somebody's mother." That somebody was Browns DE Jadeveon Clowney, according to Jackson.
"It was just trash talking in the heat of the game, honestly. Stuff happens, it's ball," said Jackson. "I'm going to take full responsibility for it and I should never do it again."
Jackson said he and Clowney "chopped it up after, like apologized." They're good. It was a chippy, chirpy afternoon at the line of scrimmage in a game both teams were intent on running the ball. Campbell said "there was a lot of talking going on out there." Jackson just happened to get caught.
"As a matter fact, while I'm getting told (what Jackson said), I’m hearing talking," said Campbell. "But that’s part of it."
The Lions rushed for 168 yards on 23 carries, a season-high average of 7.3 yards per attempt aided by Swift's long touchdown. They may have rushed it right down Cleveland's throat to take a fourth-quarter lead before Jackson's penalty pushed them back.
"It hurt," said Campbell. "And look, he knows it. He knew it when he came off."
Jackson said "it was both sides," but reiterated he "never should have been in that situation to begin with."
Browns DE Myles Garrett said the defense was doing "our best to try and get in their heads, and we were able to get one on them. It was getting real chippy up until that point. You just try to get your guys composed on the sidelines so that next time you go out there, we are a little more composed than they are.”
Jackson's penalty wasn't the reason the Lions lost Sunday. It was just one of many, like the shared blame for the club's 0-9-1 start.
"Keep fighting," said Jackson. "We've got plenty more to go, so just keep fighting, finish.