CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Lions have been plagued by major penalties in recent seasons and the team racked up three 15-yard infractions in Friday's 24-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford said Detroit's inability to keep its cool is unacceptable.

"Any time you have personal foul penalties, that's a mental thing you have to do a better job of controlling yourself, controlling your emotions," Stafford said.

In the game's opening quarter, the Lions saw a 3rd-and-9 situation turn into 3rd-and-24 when running back Reggie Bush was flagged for unnecessary roughness after shoving Cleveland linebacker D'Quell Jackson.

Bush was retaliating for a late hit, but players and coaches know it's not always the instigator that draws the flag.

"It doesn't matter what happens out there," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "Reggie got hit right in the back after a play, but that doesn't give any reason to go put our offense in a worse position by giving them 15."

Bush, a seven-year veteran, is expected to be a leader for the Lions. He knows his behavior doesn't set a good example.

"I know better," Bush said. "I've been in this league long enough, and have enough experience, to know that those type of penalties can completely change a game, completely change the momentum of a game. It starts with me. I know better than to do things like that."

In addition to Bush's penalty, defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Willie Young were each penalized 15 yards. Young, like Bush, got into a shoving match with a Browns player after the whistle. Suh got caught for delivering a late hit to Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden.

Suh has a well-documented history of late hits, but actually controlled his aggression last season, drawing just one personal foul penalty for unnecessary roughness call in Week 14.

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