Lions Fans React to 'Not Pretty' Win Over Bengals
The Detroit Lions held off a late Cincinnati Bengals rally to win their fourth straight game.
Though the Bengals surged offensively in the fourth quarter, a 28-3 lead built midway through the third quarter proved to be an insurmountable margin. The Lions' run game fueled their attack, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery playing starring roles in the win.
It was tight end Sam LaPorta who kick-started the action, as he opened the scoring with a 10-yard catch. He finished the play by going airborne into the end zone, giving the team an early 7-0 lead.
Detroit extended its lead to two scores when offensive coordinator John Morton dialed up some trickery in the red zone. Running back David Montgomery threw a touchdown, taking a direct snap and lofting the ball to tight end Brock Wright. This made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Cincinnati would get on the board with a field goal at the end of the first half, but quarterback Jake Browning struggled to get rolling and turned the ball over multiple times. Amik Robertson got the first interception of his Lions tenure, while Kerby Joseph added another pick to his tally in the second quarter.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone got in on the fun with an interception of his own to open the third quarter. That takeaway turned into another Lions score, as Jahmyr Gibbs took a screen pass 20-yards for a touchdown.
Detroit would add on later in the third, expanding their lead to 28-3 when Montgomer scored an 8-yard touchdown.
Cincinnati would cut into their deficit early in the fourth quarter, as Browning and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase connected for a pair of touchdowns to make it a two-score game. However, the Lions began to salt the game away, and Goff found rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa for a 12-yard score to make it 35-17.
Browning would connect with Tee Higgins for a touchdown to get the lead back down to 11 points, then stopped the Lions and forced a punt. However, Derrick Barnes sacked Browning for a safety to give the Lions the deciding margin of 37-24.
With the win, the Lions are now 4-1 on the year heading into a primetime matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs next week at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bengals, meanwhile, continue their swoon following the injury to Joe Burrow early in the season.
Lions fans appear to be cautiously optimistic with the win, accounting for the fact that the Bengals are not the same without their All-Pro quarterback behind center.
One concerning element of Sunday's game was the performance of the offensive line in the absence of Taylor Decker. After not allowing a sack in three consecutive games, the Lions allowed four sacks against the Bengals.
Here is a sample of the online reaction to the Lions' Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Not pretty but I’ll take it!!!
— Travon (@whoistravon_) October 5, 2025
What is your biggest takeaway from Detroit Lions victory against Bengals?
— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) October 5, 2025
Hard to complain about double-digit win but if Manu is going to have to start a lot moving forward may be wise to find a tackle in the trade deadline
— Drew Ellis (@ellisdrew) October 5, 2025
Dan Quinn Addresses Bobby Wagner Yelling at His Own Teammates During Commanders’ Win
The Washington Commanders’ veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner made quite a stir in the Week 5 clash against the
Following Wagner’s outburst, the Commanders head coach Dan Quinn marched down onto the field and talked it over with his linebacker.
Coach Quinn later broke it down for reporters. Quinn wasn’t papering over the tension; he acknowledged Wagner’s push helped the team find tempo.
“It was hard, they were subbing and getting in and so it felt tenuous to get calls in and calls out. And so, he just wanted to allow the guys to get the cleats in the grass and go. He just wanted to get going earlier. We did a nice job with that in the second half.”
Wagner’s blowup wasn’t reckless emotion. The defense was slugging early, missing tackles and losing sync. Wagner saw standard slipping and made it loud. The result? Tighter focus and a jolt of energy. The Commanders responded quickly after halftime, showing better communication and physicality. Wagner’s eruption forced urgency, and the defense locked in.
And this wasn’t the first time Wagner showed this kind of leadership.
Asked Dan Quinn about what was going on: “It was hard, they were subbing and getting in and so it felt tenuous to get calls in and calls out. And so he just wanted to allow the guys to get the cleats in the grass and go. He just wanted to get going earlier …. We did a nice job…
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 6, 2025
Back in Week 3, HC Dan Quinn took a hit from quarterback Marcus Mariota, and notably started bleeding from his nose. When coach Quinn was getting checked out, Bobby Wagner was gearing up to fire up the team again. But Quinn got back up, and Wagner’s words weren’t needed. As the linebacker noted later:
“He got knocked down, got hit pretty hard… He came back up, and it was kind of like a movie. While he was getting treatment, we weren’t sure if he was going to be able to come out. And so, we’re gathering everybody, I’m getting ready to speak, and then he comes out of nowhere and [he’s] like ‘I got it.’ It was just a cool moment; I’ll remember that forever for sure.”
Quinn’s toughness sets the tone. Wagner’s intensity follows suit, creating a gritty identity for this locker room. And that identity shone through in Week 5.
The Commanders bounced back after a slow start. The Chargers led 10-0 after the first quarter, but things flipped after a critical turnover. Safety
Bobby Wagner: statement game
Bobby Wagner’s Week 5 impact wasn’t limited to sideline theatrics. Flip the script from the shouting to the stat sheet, and his fingerprints were everywhere. He finished with 8 solo tackles (14 total, both game highs) and one QB hit. Wagner’s leadership was obvious: he barked out adjustments, stayed aggressive, and on several occasions, stopped the Chargers’ run game cold.
Prior to the Week 5 matchup (and even in the game) critics had worried about Wagner’s coverage slowing, but he timed blitzes perfectly and turned the game in the Commanders’ favor on multiple occasions. Wagner’s presence also had ripple effects.
Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw dominated inside, while Dorance Armstrong and Von Miller combined for 3.5 sacks. Washington’s pass rush rattled Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert, who took 4 sacks and remained limited to just 166 passing yards.
Quinn and Wagner’s partnership give Washington muscle and focus. The Commanders are now 3-2 and walked away from the Chargers with both momentum and a blueprint. The path forward: accountability on the sideline, execution on the field.
The next stretch will show if this edge holds. For now, Wagner’s sideline eruption stands as the moment the Commanders decided good enough wasn’t going to cut it. That attitude, paired with strong play, could reshape Washington’s season faster than any stat line.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to see our video below, explaining the downhill form of Russell Wilson. What’s really happening to the DangeRussWilson?
