By Sunday 
If the Detroit Lions were looking to test the collective blood pressure of everyone at Ford Field, mission accomplished. This game had everything: a rough start, a trick-play gut punch, a rookie sensation turning into a full-blown superstar, and an overtime eruption that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Let’s dive into this roller coaster.
Detroit Digs a Deep Early Hole
Before Lions fans could even settle into their seats, New York had built a 10-0 lead.
Jameis Winston opened the scoring by hitting Wan’Dale Robinson for a 39-yard strike. Then Younghoe Koo tacked on a field goal to push it to 10-0 heading into the second quarter.
Not the ideal script.
Detroit finally found life when Jared Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 11-yard touchdown, slicing the deficit to 10-7 — but the Giants punched right back. Winston’s TD to Isaiah Hodgins made it 17-7, and at that point, the Lions were getting pushed around.
Then came the spark.
Enter Jahmyr Gibbs: The Turning Point
Goff found Jahmyr Gibbs for a 3-yard touchdown pass that settled Detroit’s sideline and ignited Ford Field. A couple of field goals traded later, the Lions jogged into halftime down only 20-17.
Not great — but manageable.
The third quarter? A defensive slugfest. No points. Lots of tension.
Then the fourth quarter arrived, and everything exploded.
Giants Pull a Trick, But Detroit Isn’t Done
New York pulled out a page from the backyard playbook. Gunner Olszewski — yes, the return man — hit Jameis Winston for a 33-yard touchdown. The “QB catching a pass” special put the Giants up 27-17 and sent a groan through Ford Field.
But Gibbs wasn’t finished writing his masterpiece.
He took a handoff, found a crease, and rocketed 49 yards to the end zone. Just like that, Detroit was back within three points and roaring.
The Jake Bates Moment
Time ticking down.
Season energy heavy in the air.
Jake Bates steps up for a 59-yard field goal to tie it.
And he nails it.
With just 33 seconds left, Detroit forced overtime — and that set the stage for pure magic.
OT Glory: One Play, One Ball, One Superstar
First snap of overtime.
Jahmyr Gibbs gets the ball.
Everything else is a blur.
He sliced through the defense, broke free, and blazed 69 yards to the house, giving Detroit its first lead of the night at the perfect moment. Ford Field exploded. The Giants never recovered.
Detroit’s defense shut the door on New York’s final drive, sealing the 34-27 win in one of the most electrifying finishes of the season.
Gibbs: A Star in All Caps
The numbers speak loudest:
- 219 rushing yards on 15 carries
- Two rushing TDs
- 11 catches for 45 yards
- One receiving TD
That’s not a breakout.
That’s a takeover.
And Detroit needed every ounce of it.
Now, with Thanksgiving on deck and the Packers looming, the Lions ride into Thursday with confidence — and with a new hero leading the charge.