The Detroit Lions came out with a win in a close overtime matchup against the New York Giants. The Giants, who have an interim head coach and a backup quarterback, put up much more of a fight than most expected.
This is a case where the box score and the film tell two very different stories. Jared Goff attempted 42 passes and threw for 279 yards, but there were many times where it felt like Detroit could not move the ball against New York’s defense. Jack Fox punted five times and Jake Bates kicked two field goals.
Detroit’s success on offense was almost all due to one man and one man only.
Game ball: Jahmyr Gibbs
Stats: 15 carries, 219 rush yards, 2 rush TDs; 11 receptions, 45 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
Jahmyr Gibbs was the offense in this game, making up three of the team’s four touchdowns and over half of the team’s total yardage.
The reason for his success in this game was that the Giants essentially shut down the inside run; David Montgomery had just five carries for 18 yards. What New York had trouble defending were runs to the boundary. Gibbs was electric on outside run plays, with credit to both his speed and the excellent blocking from his teammates.
Part of why he was so successful was the play calling against New York’s defense. The Giants, who run mostly out of a base 3-4 defense, often times blitzed their inside linebackers. This created no room to run between the tackles, but left less defenders to cover the flats.
His first score of the game came on a drive where Gibbs was the only one to touch the ball. His first carry went for 4 yards but was negated by a defensive penalty. He gained another 4 yards on the next play, which he followed up with a 49-yarder to take Detroit down to the 3-yard line. Gibbs then ran an out route into the flat, making the catch and diving near the pylon for the score.
The second score of the game from Gibbs came on a run up the middle. Every member of the offensive line unit made and sustained their blocks, allowing Gibbs to get past the defensive front and cut to the right side of the field. Shaking three tackles, he hit paydirt on a 49-yard run.
Gibbs’ final touchdown of the game was on Detroit’s sole possession in overtime. The Lions got the ball first and only needed one play to get things done. On a first down at their own 31-yard line, Goff handed to Gibbs. Blocks by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brock Wright allowed him to get to the second level, where Isaac TeSlaa and Penei Sewell cleaned up the remaining Giants defenders. From there, it was all on Gibbs to accelerate past the safety for the 69-yard score.
Honorable mention: Aidan Hutchinson
Stats: 6 total tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 6 QB hits
With one final play to stop the New York Giants from winning in overtime, standout defensive end Aidan Hutchinson did what he does best.
It was fourth-and-5 with from Detroit’s’ 28-yard line. As the play clock was about to hit zero, Jameis Winston took the snap and dropped back for a pass. Alim McNeill created the initial pressure, forcing the right guard back into the pocket and almost taking out Jameis Winston in the process.
The right tackle initially had a step on Hutch, but he benefitted greatly from McNeill collapsing the pocket. Winston stepped to the right side, and Hutchinson was able to beat his blocker to take the veteran quarterback down, sealing the win for the Lions.
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