It was ugly, stressful and borderline heartbreaking, but the Lions showed the brand of grit that defines them — and it carried them to a victory they had no business stealing.
The Lions survived an overtime scare Sunday, defeating the New York Giants 34–27 at Ford Field in a game that was anything but pretty. Detroit never held a lead in regulation and needed every ounce of grit, resilience and explosive playmaking to pull out a win that nearly slipped away multiple times. Despite Giants quarterback Jameis Winston throwing for 366 yards and even adding a receiving touchdown, the Lions found a way, thanks in large part to a record-setting performance from Jahmyr Gibbs.
The game started in disastrous fashion for Detroit. The Giants opened with a trick-play double pass that resulted in a 39-yard touchdown strike to Wan’Dale Robinson, putting New York ahead 7–0. After a series of punts from both teams, New York tacked on a field goal to take a 10–0 lead at the end of the first quarter, leaving the Lions searching for answers.
Detroit finally broke through when Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in his first touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Lions some much-needed momentum. But the Giants responded with another touchdown drive, once again stretching the lead and testing the Lions’ composure.
That score, however, lit a spark under Gibbs, a spark that quickly turned into a wildfire.
Gibbs ripped off a 49-yard run that showcased his speed and vision, and moments later he found the end zone on a pass from Jared Goff. Detroit scored 17 unanswered points, trimming the deficit to 20–17 and reminding fans that the Lions were far from done.
But the Giants weren’t finished with their bag of tricks. Early in the fourth quarter, they dialed up another gadget play that stunned the Ford Field crowd: a 33-yard touchdown reception by none other than Winston, who stiff-armed linebacker Derrick Barnes on his way to the end zone. New York’s lead ballooned back to 10, and the Lions’ season suddenly felt as though it was tipping in the wrong direction.
Gibbs, however, had other ideas. He responded immediately with his second 49-yard touchdown run of the day, capping a three-play, 81-yard drive that pulled Detroit back within three. The rookie wasn’t finished rewriting the highlight reel, or the franchise record book.
Winston then made his lone major mistake of the game, throwing an interception to safety Thomas Harper. But Detroit squandered the prime field position, gaining only two yards before punting the ball back to New York. The Giants drained valuable time on their next drive and reached the goal line, but Detroit’s defense held firm with a critical fourth-and-goal stop.
With the Lions down 27–24, Goff led Detroit into field-goal range. Facing third-and-5, he missed Gibbs on an errant pass that resulted in a five-yard loss. That set up fourth-and-10 and a massive decision: a 59-yard field-goal attempt for Jake Bates. The rookie stepped up and drilled it, tying his career long and matching the franchise record for longest field goal made.
Tied at 27–27, the game moved to overtime.
And then, on the very first play of OT, Gibbs delivered the dagger.
The electric rookie broke a 69-yard touchdown run — his second run of 69-plus yards this season — reaching a top speed of 22.17 mph, the fourth-fastest recorded in the NFL this year. Detroit’s defense held off the Giants on the ensuing possession, sealing a dramatic victory.
Gibbs finished with 264 total yards, the most in Lions franchise history, and 219 rushing yards, a career high.
It was messy. It was stressful. It was far from perfect. But it was a win, and one Detroit desperately needed.
The Lions now turn their attention to a massive Thanksgiving matchup with the Green Bay Packers. And if Detroit plays the way it did against the Giants (Gibbs excluded) the holiday showdown could be far more challenging than fans would like.