The Detroit Lions need to run the ball to win. That's not a debate; that is the brass tax of the situation. The Lions [are not a team that can rely on quarterback Jared Goff to win](https://detroitjockcity.com/lions-prove-can-win-despite-jared-goff-01k86qj5eyq0). The Lions proved this in two back-to-back games, their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and their come-from-behind win against the New York Giants.
In the loss to the Eagles, the Lions ran the ball just 21 times in the game and just nine times in the second half. Six of those times happened in one series. If that's not bad enough, in three consecutive series during the second half, the Lions would eat up a lot of yards on a first and 10, setting up an easy second down. Each time the Lions would then throw multiple incompletions to end the series, without rushing the ball again.
Against the Giants, we saw what happens if you trust your ground game. While they only ran the ball 20 times as a team, Jahmyr Gibbs had a staggering 219 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 of them. Thus, despite trying to win off of Goff's arm yet again. When they finally hit overtime, they let Gibbs, who already had 150 yards on the day at that point, go off. He rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown against a Giants team poised to win in an upset.
Jahmyr Gibbs' 219-Yard Game Is a Wake-Up Call for Lions
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Clearly, head coach Dan Campbell and company realized how they could win the game, even if it came later in the day. Despite that finish, the Lions still showed troubling play calling, running the ball just six times in the second half (minus OT). Gibbs would take the sixth-handoff for a touchdown, going 49 yards. Detroit finished the day averaging 11.9 yards per carry compared to 10.0 yards per reception.
Interestingly enough, all four losses this season saw the Lions abandon the run, not because they couldn't run. In fact, each defeat represents the only time Detroit hasn't hit the 100-yard mark this year. It's an issue that is plaguing the Lions as the season goes on. Goff is a fine quarterback, but the passing game should be second to this prolific rushing attack. The Lions [have two Pro Bowl-caliber running backs](https://detroitjockcity.com/lions-moving-closer-heartbreaking-david-montgomery-reality-01kasd4kjrhz) who have the ability to get big chunks of easy yards.
We saw against the Eagles and Giants just how easily they could rip up their defense on those early downs in the second half, yet that wasn't the focus. You'd think that a coaching staff would rely on an attack that tires out the defense, making it easier to get yards, but for whatever reason, they decided Goff and the passing game were the best bet to get the win.
The Lions proved against the Giants that to win, they have to trust Gibbs and David Montgomery more than they have in the past. They're clearly the key to victory, and anything less than 30 rushes a game is simply malpractice at this point.
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