The Detroit Lions clawed their way to a hard-fought 17-10 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons Friday night, overcoming two costly fumbles with a relentless defensive effort and clutch special teams play. Detroit's defense set the tone early, swarming Falcons quarterbacks with three sacks—including key takedowns from Al-Quadin Muhammad and Nate Lynn—while limiting Atlanta to just 22 rushing yards on 11 attempts. The Lions' secondary bent but didn’t break, holding Falcons receivers in check despite Easton Stick’s efficient 15-of-18 passing for 149 yards. Detroit’s offense, meanwhile, leaned on Jacob Saylors’ steady ground game (35 rushing yards) and a 68-yard touchdown strike from Kyle Allen to Jackson Meeks—one of two passing scores on the night—that proved too much for Atlanta to overcome.

Atlanta’s struggles in the red zone and an anemic running attack ultimately doomed their comeback hopes, as the Falcons managed just one touchdown in three red-zone trips. Chris Blair’s 29-yard reception was a rare highlight, but Detroit’s disciplined defense—led by Erick Hallett’s team-high four tackles—shut down Atlanta’s rhythm when it mattered. The win gives the Lions momentum heading into their next preseason test, while the Falcons will need to address their ground-game woes and protective lapses after failing to capitalize on Detroit’s turnovers.