DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions had just hit a 59-yard field goal to even get to overtime with the New York Giants.
Then all it took was one handoff to Jahmyr Gibbs for them to take their first lead of the game. Detroit won 34-27 on Sunday, with Gibbs scoring three touchdowns while rushing for 219 yards and catching 11 passes for 45 yards.
It was one of the best performances by any Lions player in recent memory, and quarterback Jared Goff feels like he has the best seat in the house.
Goff handed the ball to Gibbs on a duo play; the Lions run often, and it was off to the races for a 69-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.
“You can tell the fear in the defense,” Goff said after the game. “You know, the ball gets in his hands, the way they rally to him. And then certainly when he gets to the second level on some of those longer runs, like you can feel the safety, the angle they start taking.
“It’s a good feeling for us, and it’s hard for our defense.”
Goff admitted he felt like he threw too many passes Gibbs’ way. And while 12 targets and all those swings and checkdowns felt constant, it’s easy to understand trying to get him the ball.
“ ... sometimes you are playing quarterback, you’re trying to be a point guard, and he’s the hot hand,” Goff said. “If I’m in between, just kind of give it to him. Again, probably one too many times.”
Gibbs said Amon-Ra St. Brown came up to him before the overtime run, telling him to score. The running back responded with “bet,” and then delivered in showstopping fashion.
Goff didn’t hear that moment in the huddle. But the Lions quarterback said he knew Gibbs was gone pretty quickly into his rush attempt.
“I think I put my hand up -- he was about 7 yards down the field,” Goff said. “It’s just, you can see the angle he’s about to take and the angle the safety’s at -- it’s over. And that’s what makes him so special, is that that next level speed and 24 (safety Dane Belton) on their team is not a slow player. And he’s not, he’s a really fast player. He’s a really good player.
“And ‘Jah’ ran away from him a couple times, and it’s just, he’s got a different level.”
Detroit’s offensive line entered with four of its five starters as questionable. But all ended up playing, and while there were blips on the radar in pass protection, they moved bodies when needed most.
“Those guys are a rare breed,” Goff said. “They’re battling right now through some stuff. They don’t want your sympathy. They’re just going to put their head down and work.
“I’m proud of those guys and thankful for them laying it on the line for me and for the backs every game.”
Gibbs, the soft-spoken star, didn’t have much to say after the game. He laughed off questions of feeling in the zone, and even said he hates starting overtime with the ball under the new format.
The running back described his game-clinching touchdown and the feeling he had when he broke free as “Whoosh.” Gibbs said he knew he had the safety beat to the end zone when he hadn’t moved, and he was right, because it was off to the races.
“I wasn’t really thinking about carrying the team,” Gibbs said. “I just do whatever it takes to win, whatever they call me for, want me to do. So, that was really my mindset.”
Campbell said whenever Gibbs finds a crease in the line, he thinks, “He’s gone.” The Lions coach credited Gibbs for bailing the Lions out time and time again on Sunday against the Giants.
Gibbs took a 14-yard pass for a touchdown late in the first half, keeping the Lions in the game despite an ugly first half. He then broke free for a 49-yard touchdown with 11:01 left in the fourth to cut a 10-point lead to 3 in the blink of an eye. Then, he hit the Giants with a knockout blow in overtime.
“He’s electric, you know, and he’s a game-changer,” Campbell said. “Now, I’m going to give credit to that O-Line, because I think they really dug in today and did a good job. And receivers, as always. You don’t get those knockout runs unless your receivers are blocking. But Gibbs, he’s electric.
“This was not about first downs and picking up a few yards, you know? This guy is going to the house. He’s got the juice to make it happen, he’s got vision. He’s a difference maker. He was, I mean, he bailed us out today in a big way.”
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