The Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes era of the Detroit Lions has been defined by vanquishing ghosts. Accomplishing the feats the “same old Lions” never could.

On Monday, Detroit buried another ghost, finally knocking off the Baltimore Ravens just weeks before the 20-year mark of their previous win against them. That day, Joey Harrington started under center for the Lions, while Anthony Wright was taking snaps for the Ravens.

It’s a huge contrast to where these franchises stand now, with both enjoying more than 15 years of stability at quarterback. The Lions rode with Matthew Stafford and now Jared Goff, while the Ravens thrived with Joe Flacco and now Lamar Jackson.

While Detroit can now join the short list of NFC teams to beat Jackson, he wasn’t the lone Ravens QB who plagued them. On Sunday, the Lions will have the opportunity to topple Flacco, who now leads the Cleveland Browns.

Flacco’s teams have owned the Lions

Sunday could mark the fourth career matchup between Flacco and Detroit, provided the Browns stick with him as their starter. The Lions didn’t get to face him last season, as he sat in favor of Anthony Richardson with the Colts in a 24-6 Lions win.

Flacco is 3-0 when starting against Detroit, debuting in 2009 with a 48-3 thrashing where Baltimore racked up 308 rushing yards behind dominant line play. He defeated Detroit again in 2013 and 2017. His stats weren’t gaudy in those contests: three touchdown throws, zero picks, and an average of 240.33 passing yards with a 59.57% completion rate.

Naturally, victories are decided by team effort, and Detroit struggled to beat Flacco-led squads while scoring just 13 points on average compared to Baltimore’s 36.67. But it’s not 2017 anymore; it’s 2025, and the former Super Bowl MVP is now 40. This time, 13 points might be plenty.

Flacco’s performance was shaky in Sunday’s upset win over the previously unbeaten Green Bay Packers. He hit on 58.3% of his throws for 142 yards, with zero touchdowns and one interception.

The Browns’ defense and special teams carried the comeback, erasing a late 10-point gap to escape 13-10. Flacco leads the NFL in pass attempts at 126, but has just two touchdown passes against four interceptions. Cleveland is averaging 15.33 points per game, the league’s second-worst figure.

For Detroit to finally defeat Flacco, the secondary must prevent him from flashing his old form. Keeping the Browns from touchdowns is obvious, but denying field goal range is just as crucial. Lions fans remember his second victory all too well, when Baltimore kicked six field goals in an 18-16 win.

Detroit’s offense will face its own challenge against Cleveland’s elite defense. But if the Lions’ defense ensures Flacco doesn’t look like his prime self, another ghost may be exorcised.