“The man who never has money enough to pay his debts has too much of something else.” — James Lendall Basford, Seven Seventy Seven Sensations (1877)

The Lions paid off yet another debt under the bright lights of Ford Field last night, hosting the NFC’s best team (on paper), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The taste of last year’s 20–16 loss in Ford Field still kept Dan Campbell up some nights. Nightmares of Baker Mayfield torching Malcolm Rodriguez or the offense being limited to 16 points had Campbell waking up in night sweats, itching for revenge. Well, he didn’t disappoint—and neither did the Lions.

The debt was big, and the opponent was bigger.

Opening Salvo

Ford Field was electric from the opening kick, with Tampa receiving first. The Lions quickly settled in for a long night. I barely had time to sit down before Jahmyr Gibbs flew down the sideline for a 30-yard catch on the opening play. We didn’t know it then, but that play set the tone—for the Lions, for the game, and for the MVP of the night, Jahmyr Gibbs.

Detroit’s first drive ended with an Amon-Ra St. Brown 27-yard touchdown grab, followed by his now-famous “6/7” dance—giving kids everywhere something to laugh about.

But anyone who watches football knows the opening drive doesn’t decide a 60-minute game. And based on Detroit’s history, expectations were mixed. Coming in, the Lions had allowed opening-drive touchdowns in five of six games this season, with Cincinnati being the lone exception. This time, though, Kelvin Sheppard had his defense swaggin’ and surfin’. The Lions did the impossible—forced a punt on Tampa’s first drive.

Unfortunately, the punt was quickly undone when Jared Goff fumbled near midfield, handing the ball right back to the Buccaneers.

It wasn’t an injury scare—it was a flashback scare. What Goff were we getting tonight? The one who threw five interceptions against Houston last year, or the 18-for-18 surgeon from Seattle?

Before the doubt could even settle, Sheppard’s defense was back on the field shutting it down again. Another stop. Another punt. The swagger was real.

The Back-and-Forth

The Lions moved the ball well again, marching on a ten-play drive that came down to a 4th-and-2 from the twelve. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (aka Johnny Mo) dialed up an aggressive call—Goff in the shotgun, receivers streaking with one crossing route (from my angle, anyway). He lofted a ball toward rookie Isaac TeSlaa, who was blatantly held by a Bucs defender. No flag. Turnover on downs. The Ford Field faithful were not amused.

The game stayed tight, defensive, and low-scoring. It remained 7–0 deep into the second quarter—until the fastest player in the NFL delivered the fastest touchdown in the last three years. Jahmyr Gibbs took a simple run up the middle and turned it into a 78-yard track meet, blowing past everyone, including the man who probably still sees him in his nightmares, Antoine Winfield Jr.

Detroit and Tampa traded punts after that, and the Lions missed a field goal. Then cornerback Amik Robertson came flying back from the dirt to punch out a fumble, giving the Lions one more shot before halftime. But Goff’s next pass was intercepted, and Tampa managed a quick drive for a field goal before the break. Halftime: Lions 14, Bucs 3.

Second Half: Sealing the Debt

The second half started exactly how the Lions didn’t want it to. Tampa moved down the field and capped the drive with a touchdown from rookie receiver Tez Johnson. No MVP chants this time—just quiet concern as Ford Field braced for a tight finish.

Those fears didn’t last long.

On the very next drive, Gibbs struck again. Detroit marched seven plays downfield, and the rookie capped it with his second touchdown of the night to make it 21–9 Lions. Calm restored. Debt collectors satisfied.

A late 58-yard field goal that bounced off the right post and just over the crossbar gave Detroit a 24–9 lead, and that was all she wrote.

Settling the Score

The Lions had a debt to pay, and they’re all squared up. Tampa Bay’s a good team, even with key injuries—including Mike Evans, who broke his clavicle during the game—but Detroit outclassed them in every phase.

Now sitting at 5–2 heading into the bye, the Lions will watch how the NFC shakes out. With Green Bay leading at 4-1-1 and six teams sitting at 5–2, Detroit’s got no room to coast.

The Lions will need to keep playing the same gritty, disciplined football that’s defined their rise. After all, grit is the currency of debt payors—and Dan Campbell is paying every penny back, with interest.