Jahmyr Gibbs picked a great time to have a career day, as the third-year sensation at running back for the Detroit Lions racked up a career-high in scrimmage yards in a single game (218 yards) gaining 136 yards on the ground and 82 yards receiving – his second-best total for each of those categories in a single game. His outstanding performance helped the Lions beat the NFC-best Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 at home on Monday Night Football. The Lions and Bucs are now in a four-way tie for the second-best record in the conference, each at 5-2.
Gibbs was hot out the gates for the home team, helping Detroit march easily downfield on its opening drive, as quarterback Jared Goff completed a 31-yard pass-and-catch to Gibbs before the drive was capped off the drive with a 27-yard pitch from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who scampered into the end zone with just under 12 minutes left in the opening frame.
The Lions’ injury-riddled defense put the clamps on the red-hot Baker Mayfield, holding Tampa to a three-and-out on its first drive. But Detroit couldn’t capitalize after the first score. The Lions’ next two offensive possessions ended in turnovers (a strip-sack of Goff and a failed fourth-and-two conversion in the redzone).
The Lions defense held firm, however, and limited the visiting Bucs to just 15 net offensive yards, compared to 20 yards in penalties, and more punts (two) than first downs (none). The Lions racked up 160 yards of offense in the same quarter and effortlessly moved the ball down the field en route to seven first-quarter first downs.
The second quarter was much of the same for both teams, as the Lions defense stood tall against Mayfield and company, but with just about six minutes left in the first half, it was Gibbs who showed exactly why the Lions offense is one of the league’s most explosive. The shifty back took an inside handoff up the center of the defense for a 78-yard touchdown run – the longest of his career.
The Lions next offensive possession was stalled by a phantom offensive pass interference call on Kalif Raymond, calling back what would have been a first-down catch from Jameson Williams. After punting, they got the ball back when Amik Robertson forced a fumble that Aidan Hutchinson recovered. However, with just under two minutes left in the half, the Lions failed to convert that turnover into points, as kicker Jake Bates missed a 54-yard field goal.
The teams exchanged interceptions on each of their next receptions, with both Mayfield and Goff completing passes to the opposing teams. Tampa Bay finally got on the board with a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 14-3 halftime lead.
The tenacious Lions defense held TB to just 58 yards of offense, with Mayfield going just 9-of-16 for 47 yards and a pick. The Lions racked up 275 yards, with Gibbs carrying the load (107 yards on the ground and 54 receiving yards). Goff completed 13-of-19 passes for 183 first-half yards, a touchdown, and an interception. St. Brown had five catches for 87 yards and his opening-drive touchdown.
Tampa Bay’s offense got a jolt of energy to begin the third quarter, racking up more yards on the opening drive of the second half than they did the entire first two quarters with an 11-play, 67-yard drive. The drive ended with a 22-yard screen pass from Mayfield to Tez Johnson to make it a one-score game at 14-9. Tampa failed to convert the follow-up two-point conversion that would’ve made it a three-point game.
Not to be outdone, the Lions used their final possession of the third quarter to march 73 yards over seven plays, capped off with a five-yard Gibbs touchdown run. The score pushed the home team’s lead to 21-9. Bates would add a 58-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the only score for either team in the final quarter.
Goff finished the game having completed 20-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown toss, while Mayfield was rattled all night, completing just 28-of-50 passes for 228 yards.
St. Brown led the Lions with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions defense was the other star group for the Lions, holding the league’s sixth-best scoring offense to just nine points.
