Jahmyr Gibbs’ game-winning touchdown run shows exactly why the Lions’ rushing attack is one of the NFL’s scariest
Let’s break down Jahmyr Gibbs’ electric, game-winning run against the Giants in overtime.
The Detroit Lions gutted their way to a 34-27 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, and there’s one man who had the game of all games. That was the guy in the cape on the field wearing the 0 on his chest: Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Lions’ star running back finished the day with a whopping 264 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. But it was his 69-yard touchdown in overtime that deserves all the extra looks, so I looped in A to Z NFL’s Kyle Crabbs to break it down and tell us exactly what happened on what eventually became Detroit’s game-winning play in Week 12.
Gibbs’ touchdown run is ultimate proof of how lethal the Lions’ rushing attack can be
Kyle: Gibbs gets the glory for a 69-yard scoring romp on the first play of the overtime period to bring the Lions all the way back, but there are six other Lions deserving of acknowledgement for their efforts on this play.
First, at the point of attack, center Graham Glasgow and rookie right guard Tate Ratledge eject Giants defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris a full three yards off the ball on a combination block up to the MIKE to create a whole lot of extra stress to the run fits. Right tackle Penei Sewell gets a clean release up to the second level to fit LB Bobby Okereke, who makes Sewell’s job even easier by trying to jump over Sewell’s block, which makes Gibbs’ running lane even bigger and, as a result of how Okereke attacked the block, completely walled off.
But how about this trio of skill players for Detroit? You want to talk about physical eligibles who can help you win in the run game? Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa successfully stalks up to the second level to block Giants corner Andru Phillips and seal him from providing lateral support on this run. Brock Wright manages to win across the face of a crashing Brian Burns, allowing Gibbs to cut off his hip and accelerate vertically into space. And none of this run happens without Amon-Ra St. Brown on a short motion getting down inside of safety Jevon Holland, who was walked down in the slot against Detroit’s condensed formation and came on a blitz on the play.
When I say every player to the right of the left guard not only won their assignment, they won it convincingly, that’s the kind of recipe that leaves Gibbs untouched into the secondary with only safety Dane Belton to beat in a footrace to the end zone. Ballgame.
Mike: Gibbs had been he bright side of the Lions’ offense outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown in this one. After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about how he knew he wanted to get Gibbs extra involved on offense in an effort to not just score, but also run the clock down and make it harder on the Giants for their possession. Instead, Gibbs just took it right to the house.
According to St. Brown, even he felt the same way:
“The craziest thing ever. Overtime’s starting. I told (receiver coach/assistant head coach) Scottie Montgomery, ‘Scottie, let’s run the ball. Trust me, we’ve just got to run in,’” St. Brown said. “Scottie’s like, ‘Yeah, I agree. Let’s do it.’ I told (running backs coach Tashard) Choice, ‘Just run it.’”
Welp, everyone was on the same page for this one, just like the on-field product, and it worked out in the best way possible as it helped the Lions avoid their fifth loss of the season while keeping pace with the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
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