Detmer Picks a Bad Time

Ty Detmer wanted to show the Cleveland Browns they had made a big mistake.

Instead, he made seven of his own.

Detmer, traded by Cleveland earlier this month, threw seven interceptions--one fewer than the NFL record--to help the Browns to a 24-14 victory over the sloppy Detroit Lions on Sunday.

“It’s embarrassing,” said Detmer, who was with the Browns the previous two seasons. “I definitely tried to force things that weren’t there. I know better than to do that. That was not me out there. I put my team in a hole seven times.”

Cleveland (1-1) got three touchdown passes from Tim Couch--one to an offensive lineman--and 124 yards rushing in 31 carries from rookie James Jackson.

Rookie Anthony Henry had three interceptions. Detmer played dreadfully in replacing Charlie Batch as Detroit’s starting quarterback, completing 22 of 42 passes for 212 yards and the seven interceptions.

Detmer came within one interception of tying the NFL record of eight in a game, set by Jim Hardy of the Chicago Cardinals in 1950 against Philadelphia.

The Lions (0-2) committed 15 penalties for 115 yards.

Couch, who replaced Detmer as the Browns’ starter as a rookie in 1999, completed 12 of 20 passes for 138 yards and matched a career high with the three touchdown passes--including one to backup center Shaun O’Hara.

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Thrown Off

Most interceptions in NFL game:

* Jim Hardy, Chicago Cardinals, vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 24, 1950

* Parker Hall, Cleveland, vs. Green Bay, Nov. 8, 1942

* Frank Sinkwich, Detroit, vs. Green Bay, Oct. 24, 1943

* Bob Waterfield, Los Angeles, vs. Green Bay, Oct. 17, 1948

* Zeke Bratkowski, Chicago, vs. Baltimore, Oct. 2, 1960

* Tommy Wade, Pittsburgh, vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 12, 1965

* Ken Stabler, Oakland, vs. Denver, Oct. 16, 1977

* Steve DeBerg, Tampa Bay, vs. San Francisco, Sept. 7, 1986

* Ty Detmer, Detroit, vs. Cleveland, Sept. 23, 2001