Hassanein's Standout Preseason
Lions Drop Preseason Opener to Bengals 16-14; Ahmed Hassanein Impresses on Defense
Key Points
Ahmed Hassanein, a sixth‑round pick in 2025 who previously recovered from a pectoral tear and spent time on Detroit's practice squad before this season, opened with a sack on Joe Burrow and later produced a third‑quarter strip‑sack, signaling a strong return and a position switch to the edge/big end.
Cincinnati rolled out its starters for at least a few plays, with Joe Burrow going 5-of-6 for 39 yards on the opening drive, illustrating the Bengals' priority of evaluating their top unit in the preseason.
Detroit mounted a late rally but an onside kick attempt after Luke Altmyer's final drive was recovered by Cincinnati; the Lions then forced a quick stop and punt before Altmyer threw an interception to end the game.
Josh Dobbs spelled Luke Altmyer for a stretch, finishing the night 4-of-8 for 32 yards, helping Detroit split quarterback reps in the middle portion of the game.
Rookie right tackle Blake Miller played 33 snaps, all in the first half, as part of Detroit's new-look offensive line rotation in the first preseason game.
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Detroit Lions 16-14 in their preseason opener at Paycor Stadium on Saturday, with Cincinnati's starters leading the way early while Detroit rested most of its key players. Fox 17 reported that Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass in relief of Joe Burrow, Evan McPherson hit three field goals, and the Lions could not find the end zone until the final minutes of the game.
Detroit turned the ball over multiple times and struggled to move the ball consistently, though a late 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive gave the Lions a brief shot at the win. An onside kick recovery by Cincinnati sealed the result.
Bengals Starters Set the Tone Early
Cincinnati came out with its first-team offense, and Joe Burrow wasted no time. He went 5-of-6 for 39 yards on the opening drive, showing the Bengals' intent to get real snaps for their top players in the preseason. Fox 17 noted that Flacco came in later and added a touchdown pass to build on the lead McPherson's three field goals helped establish.
Detroit took the opposite approach, sitting most of its starters. The game became a depth showcase for younger players trying to earn roster spots, according to Bradenton. That made the early deficit harder to overcome, as Cincinnati's more experienced unit controlled the first half.
Ahmed Hassanein Flashes as Detroit's Best Defender
Edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein was the bright spot on Detroit's defense. The sixth-round pick in 2025 — who had previously torn his pectoral muscle and spent time on Detroit's practice squad — opened with a sack on Burrow and added a strip-sack in the third quarter. His position switch to edge rusher appears to be paying off early.
Tri-City Herald gave Detroit's defense some of its better grades on the night, with Hassanein's pass-rush activity standing out in an otherwise rough evening for the Lions. Detroit's defensive line made life difficult for Cincinnati's backups, but the damage from the first-team Bengals offense was already done by then.
Detroit's Offense Turns the Ball Over Too Many Times
Luke Altmyer ran Detroit's offense for most of the night and finished with two interceptions and a fumble. Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa dropped a ball early that led directly to an interception, compounding the Lions' turnover woes. Josh Dobbs spelled Altmyer for a stretch, going 4-of-8 for 32 yards without adding much spark.
Running back Jacob Saylors was the engine that kept Detroit moving. He racked up 83 rushing yards by halftime and came close to scoring on one big carry. Mod Bee noted that Detroit's mistakes were too frequent for a team trying to evaluate its depth, with turnovers stalling several promising drives before the final one clicked.
Late Rally Falls Just Short for Detroit
Altmyer led Detroit on a 12-play, 80-yard drive in the final minutes. Tarik Black caught the touchdown, and the Lions converted a two-point conversion to pull within two at 16-14. The drive showed real promise — but it came too late.
Detroit tried an onside kick to get the ball back, but Cincinnati recovered it. The Lions forced a quick punt and got one more chance, but Altmyer threw an interception to end the game. Idaho Statesman summed up the night simply: Detroit made too many mistakes to win, even against a team playing its backups for most of the night.
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