Locker room buzz: Play call 3 years in the making, RB as the Joker, defense's punchout plan, and Bates laments miss
Baltimore, Md. — Here’s what I learned bouncing around the Detroit Lions’ locker room following the team’s 38-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Long time coming
Detroit got a go-ahead touchdown on a critical fourth-down call on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The unique formation saw Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield and Amon-Ra St. Brown as the H-back, offset to Gibbs’ left. At the snap, St. Brown took the handoff before pitching the ball to Gibbs, who coasted across the goal line for the 4-yard touchdown.
St. Brown said the play has been on the call sheet a number of times the past couple of seasons, including each of the first two games this year, but hadn’t been called until Monday night.
“We have been practicing that play for three years,” Gibbs said. “We installed that my rookie year, and this was the first time we ran it.”
When it was discussed in a team meeting late in the preparation process for the Ravens, Gibbs leaned over to St. Brown and said, “Bro, we're not calling that play." St. Brown responded that the comment all but guaranteed offensive coordinator John Morton would utilize it.