Detroit — Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets turned into the “knockout, 60-minute brawl” that Lions coach Dan Campbell predicted, but only because his team kept punching itself in the face down the stretch.
After coughing up a 14-point fourth-quarter edge, the Lions got a late score from star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, his third of the contest, to escape Ford Field with a 31-24 victory.
The Lions (2-1) had opened a pair of double-digit leads in the second half with lengthy touchdown drives their first two possessions, but couldn’t put away the pesky Jets (1-2), coached by former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
After taking a 24-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, Detroit allowed two long third-down conversions, the second coming on a pass interference on third-and-17, leading to a New York touchdown three snaps later.
The Lions then coughed possession back to the Jets, providing the visitors a short field after failing to convert a fourth down. Even if the Lions had been successful on the snap, they were flagged for an illegal formation on the play.
The Jets tied it up eight snaps later with a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Geno Smith to Garrett Wilson on fourth-and-6, followed by a successful 2-point conversion.
However, a long pass to Isaac TeSlaa set up an 11-yard scoring strike to Gibbs with 2:25 remaining to put the Lions back on top.
Lions safety Chuck Clark put the game on ice, forcing a fumble on a blitz that was recovered by linebacker Jack Campbell.
Game ball
Gibbs bounced back from a relatively quiet outing against Buffalo last week, racking up 164 yards from scrimmage and scoring a trio of touchdowns.
Scoring summary
First quarter
● None
Second quarter
● 9:35 — After a sluggish start for both offenses, Detroit pieced together a drive that pushed into the red zone, fueled by two carries and two receptions for Gibbs that totaled 41 yards. However, a holding call against Brock Wright derailed the series, leaving the Lions to settle for a 30-yard Jake Bates field goal. LIONS 3, JETS 0
● 5:33 — The Jets responded with a touchdown, driving 74 yards on seven plays. The team’s tight ends were instrumental during the possession. Receptions to Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods and rookie Kenyon Sadiq combined for 60 yards, including a 24-yard, diving touchdown to Sadiq to cap the series. JETS 7, LIONS 3
● 1:36— Following a 44-yard kickoff return by Jacob Saylors, Detroit counterpunched with a touchdown of their own. It took 12 plays to move 53 yards, including a fourth-down completion for TeSlaa to the 4-yard line. Two snaps later, Goff found St. Brown on a fade to put the Lions back in front. LIONS 10, JETS 7
Third quarter
● 10:56 — Not facing a single third down, the Lions struck quickly out of the break, marching 80 yards in seven plays. Sam LaPorta had a 28-yard grab to move the offense across midfield and Gibbs took a pitch going right, reversed field when he ran into trouble, and picked up a backside block from Jameson Williams to get across the goal line for the 17-yard touchdown. LIONS 17, JETS 7
● 6:22— After a 32-yard pass to Wilson and 11-yard run for Breece Hall moved the Jets inside the 20-yard line, Alim McNeill and DJ Wonnum came up with back-to-back sacks to halt the threat, leaving the Jets to take a 42-yard field goal that brought the visitors back within a score. LIONS 17, JETS 10
Fourth quarter
● 14:57 — Gibbs carried the ball seven times for 32 yards — including a 1-yard touchdown run, sandwiched around back-to-back catches for Williams that totaled 30 yards. LIONS 24, JETS 10
● 11:17 — Put into third-and-long twice by Detroit’s defense, the Jets converted both times, including getting bailed out by a pass interference infraction against cornerback DJ Reed inside the 5-yard line. That set up a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ruckert. The Jets went for two and failed to convert. LIONS 24, JETS 16
● 4:06 — Taking over near midfield after a failed fourth-down try for the Lions, the Jets worked into the end zone in eight plays. The dagger was a 22-yard touchdown to Wilson on fourth-and-6, followed by a successful 2-point conversion to Sterling Shepard to knot things up with a little more than four minutes remaining. LIONS 24, JETS 24
● 2:25 — The Lions needed just four plays to retake the lead. TeSlaa kick-started the possession with a 49-yard catch-and-run, and Gibbs polished things off with an 11-yard touchdown grab, his third score of the game. LIONS 31, JETS 24
Turnovers
● Coming on a blitz during the Jets’ final possession, Clark delivered a massive hit to Smith in the pocket, dislodging the ball from the quarterback’s grasp. Campbell jumped on the fumble, securing the victory for Detroit.
Key stats
● Goff was sharp once again, completing 25-of-32 for 269 yards, two scores and zero interceptions. This marks the 20th consecutive game the Jets haven’t intercepted a pass.
● Gibbs had 99 yards and two touchdowns with 20 carries. Backup Sione Vaki chipped in 26 yards on six carries and another 11 yards on his lone target.
● Gibbs led Detroit’s pass-catchers with seven grabs for 65 yards, while TeSlaa had a team-high 66 yards.
● Christian Izien had 11 tackles, including three for a loss. DJ Wonnum had two of Detroit’s four sacks.
Notable
● With two touchdowns, Gibbs passed Billy Sims for the second-most rushing scores in franchise history. With 42 rushing touchdowns, Gibbs only trails Barry Sanders, who found paydirt 99 times on the ground during his Hall of Fame career.
● Rookie defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard took an offensive snap, going in motion on a second-and-goal play from the 1-yard line.
Injuries
● Reed was removed from the game by the medical spotter for a possible concussion during the third quarter, but he cleared protocol and returned to action the next defensive series.
Inactives
The Lions made the following players inactive for Sunday’s contest: Guard Ben Bartch, tight end Tyler Conklin, safety Bishop Fitzgerald, defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein, linebacker Devin White and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
Bartch was ruled out on Friday with a foot injury. The others were healthy scratches. White was the biggest surprise after the veteran linebacker logged 51 defensive snaps the first two weeks.
Next game
The Lions hit the road to battle the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football, Oct. 4, at 8:20 p.m.
You cover the spread and end the game in victory formation in the NFL you celebrate the W. Vaki, Teslaa, Rakestraw all flashed and Chuck Clark is legit. Jets made plays, credit to them and specifically Garrett Wilson. They fought tooth and nail. Big win.
I hate to be “that guy” but Malcolm Rodriguez should never play another snap at LB unless it’s in the preseason