DETROIT — For two truly terrible football teams, the Browns and Lions certainly put on a show Sunday at Ford Field.

The non-juggernauts combined to score 75 points, run 136 plays and amass 736 passing yards in a thoroughly entertaining game.

In the end, though, Detroit proved to be the less bad ballclub and stole a 38-37 victory from Cleveland.

“We’ll take it any way we can get it,” Lions linebacker Larry Foote said. “That’s why this league is so great because you can lose any Sunday. It don’t matter what your record is. We got talent.”

While Foote’s definition of “talent” is apparently different from most NFL experts, there was no denying Detroit’s determination on the autumn afternoon.

The home team never panicked after falling behind 24-3 and making Browns quarterback Brady Quinn look like he was back at Notre Dame, shredding bad defenses with pinpoint throws.

Considering Cleveland had previously been outscored 33-9 in the opening quarter this year, no one would have blamed the Lions for turning tail and curling up into a ball at that point.

“We knew they had come out strong in most of their games this season, so we knew we could get back in this game if we just took our time, didn’t get ahead of ourselves and just fight back,” Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson said. “That’s what we did.”

Against all odds, the Lions did just that — despite owning a 1-25 record in their previous 26 games.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford caught lightning in a bottle with Johnson and running back Kevin Smith, becoming the first rookie since the immortal Ray Buivid of the 1937 Chicago Bears to throw five touchdowns in a game.

Detroit’s defense also stiffened its resolve and limited the Browns to one TD in the final 47 minutes, setting the stage for one of the more bizarre finishes in recent memory.

Cleveland cornerback Hank Poteat flung Johnson down in the end zone to draw a pass interference penalty as the clock ran out, giving the Lions a rare untimed down at the 1-yard line. Stafford then shook off a potentially severe shoulder injury to hit Brandon Pettigrew for the game-winning score.

The half-filled dome erupted with cheers, while Cleveland’s players fell to the ground in stunned silence.

“They got a break. They threw it up for a miracle and they got it,” Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs said softly. “Our offense showed a lot of promise out there today, but it still didn’t happen for us.

“I feel the worst for our fans. Win or lose, we want them to know we’re working hard in practice, we’re giving it our all in practice and games. We’re doing all we can to give them what they deserve.”

Frankly, Cribbs and his teammates deserved a better fate on this day.

There were a number of plays that could have swung the outcome in Cleveland’s direction, but all somehow went in favor of the Lions — topped by the absolutely correct last-second call against Poteat.

The most devastating mistake committed by the Browns, however, didn’t come on defense.

Rookie running back Chris Jennings was the culprit, dropping a potential TD pass from Quinn at the end of the second quarter that cost Cleveland four points. Had he caught the perfect throw, the Browns would have won the battle of 1-8 bottom-feeders.

Instead, they fell to 1-9 and finally gave the laughing stock Lions something to smile about.

“I’m sort of at a loss for words, which you guys know doesn’t really happen a whole lot,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz quipped. “We can even go to (Charles Dickens) with ‘The best of times and worst of times.’

“Our philosophy is a win is a win and a loss is a loss. We’ll take this win.”

Cleveland coach Eric Mangini, meanwhile, said he felt “sick” three times in four sentences when describing the result. He wasn’t alone.

“It’s very heartbreaking,” Browns safety Brodney Pool said. “To put up points like we did and have it decided on a call, it’s tough. It’s real tough.”

Read more

• Lions 38, Browns 37: Big day for offense, but bizarre loss for Browns
• Lions steal win, prove themselves less bad ballclub
• Decisions costly in Browns’ final moments against Lions
• Browns notes: Despite loss, a breakout day for Brady

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

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