Gibbs Powers Lions Past Jets 31-24 as Detroit’s Defense Delivers the Final Blow

DETROIT — This time, when the Detroit Lions needed somebody to finish the game, both sides of the football answered.

Jahmyr Gibbs delivered three touchdowns, Isaac TeSlaa came through with a massive 49-yard reception late, and Chuck Clark forced the game-sealing fumble as Detroit held off Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets 31-24 Sunday at Ford Field.

The victory moves Detroit to 2-1, bouncing back from last week’s 41-31 loss in Buffalo. 

Lions find their footing before halftime

Detroit’s offense wasn’t explosive early, but Jake Bates opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal.

The Jets answered when Geno Smith connected with Kenyon Sadiq for a 24-yard touchdown, giving New York a 7-3 advantage.

Detroit finally found the end zone late in the half.

Following a strong Jacob Saylors kickoff return, Jared Goff led the Lions downfield and converted a crucial fourth down to Isaac TeSlaa. Goff then found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 4-yard touchdown, sending Detroit into halftime with a 10-7 lead. 

Jahmyr Gibbs takes over

The third quarter belonged to Gibbs.

On Detroit’s opening possession of the second half, Gibbs took a pitch toward the right side, appeared bottled up, reversed field and turned what looked like a broken play into a spectacular 17-yard touchdown.

He even added a little extra afterward, breaking out a celebration inspired by former Lions defensive coordinator and current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. 

Detroit’s defense started heating up as well. Alim McNeill helped wreck a Jets possession with consecutive sacks — sharing one with D.J. Wonnum — and New York had to settle for a 42-yard field goal.

The Lions entered the fourth leading 17-10 and immediately extended it.

Gibbs punched in a 1-yard touchdown on the first play of the quarter, giving Detroit a 24-10 advantage.

That score also moved Gibbs past Billy Sims for second place in Lions history in career rushing touchdowns, behind only Barry Sanders. 

A 14-point lead disappears

Then things got uncomfortable.

Smith found Jeremy Ruckert for a 4-yard touchdown, although New York failed on the ensuing two-point conversion.

Detroit had an opportunity to regain control but couldn’t convert a fourth-and-2, giving the Jets another chance.

New York eventually appeared to come up just short of the goal line on a Garrett Wilson reception. Glenn challenged the spot, the ruling was overturned, and Wilson was awarded a 23-yard touchdown.

Smith then connected with Sterling Shepard for the two-point conversion.

Just like that, Detroit’s 24-10 fourth-quarter lead was gone.

24-24. 4:06 remaining.

It was another uncomfortable moment for a Lions team that had already watched New Orleans erase a 21-point deficit in Week 1. 

TeSlaa changes everything

Detroit needed somebody to make a play.

Isaac TeSlaa did exactly that.

The second-year receiver broke loose for a 49-yard reception, instantly flipping the field and putting Detroit in position to retake control.

TeSlaa finished with three catches for 66 yards, but none was bigger than that one.

Moments later, Goff found Gibbs for an 11-yard touchdown — Gibbs’ third score of the afternoon — and Detroit reclaimed the lead 31-24 with 2:25 remaining.

Goff finished 25-of-32 for 269 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, while Gibbs produced 99 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding seven catches for 65 yards and another score.

Detroit finished with 381 total yards and did not turn the ball over.

Defense finally slams the door

But the Jets weren’t finished.

Smith drove New York into Detroit territory in the final minute with a chance to force overtime.

After the way the first three weeks have unfolded defensively, the Lions needed someone to end it.

Enter Chuck Clark.

Clark came screaming off the edge on a safety blitz and dropped Smith for a 17-yard sack, knocking the football loose in the process.

Jack Campbell recovered it.

Ballgame.

The turnover was New York’s only giveaway of the afternoon, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Smith otherwise had a huge afternoon, completing 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett Wilson finished with 10 catches for 107 yards and a score.

But when Detroit absolutely had to have one defensive play, Clark delivered it. 

Detroit gets the response it needed

It wasn’t perfect.

Detroit surrendered another significant fourth-quarter lead, and the secondary allowed Smith to complete more than 80 percent of his passes.

But after the defense was shredded by Josh Allen and Buffalo in Week 2, there were encouraging signs Sunday: pressure up front, a much stronger performance against the run and, most importantly, a game-winning defensive play.

Meanwhile, Gibbs looked like the centerpiece of Detroit’s offense, Goff protected the football, and TeSlaa delivered when his number was called.

The Lions didn’t make it easy.

But when the Jets erased a 14-point lead and threatened to steal the game, Detroit answered.

Final: Lions 31, Jets 24.