By Blessing 
Where Jahmyr Gibbs goes on the field, the Detroit Lions usually go with him. In a season that has often felt confusing and unpredictable, one simple clue keeps popping up when trying to forecast a game’s outcome: did Gibbs find the end zone?
The numbers tell a clear story. Detroit is a perfect 8-0 in games where Gibbs scores a touchdown. In the five games where he hasn’t crossed the goal line, the Lions are winless at 0-5.
On paper, the solution to Detroit’s problems feels obvious. Give Gibbs the ball and do whatever it takes to get him into the end zone, even if that means pushing him across the line. The reality has been more complicated. Over the last six games, both Gibbs and the team have struggled to maintain rhythm and deliver steady performances.
Week-to-week consistency has been elusive for Gibbs and the Lions. Before the bye week, Detroit was coming off an emphatic win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gibbs, along with the “Legion of Whom,” fueled the offense with 218 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in a 24-9 victory. After the bye, everything changed. Gibbs was limited to 28 yards from scrimmage and failed to score in a frustrating 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
That outing was followed by a strong response. Against the Washington Commanders, Gibbs erupted for 172 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, leading the Lions to a convincing 44-22 win. Momentum seemed to be building again, but it didn’t last. In a 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Gibbs became Jared Goff’s lone reliable option, posting 107 receiving yards. On the ground, he was held to 39 yards and never reached the end zone when Detroit desperately needed a spark.
The following week brought another swing. In an overtime win against the New York Giants, Gibbs looked unstoppable, piling up 264 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. That surge was short-lived. On Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers, he totaled just 86 yards in a loss that halted any progress. He did bounce back a week later, scoring three times in a statement performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
If the pattern holds, Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams could be another tough outing. A quiet day from Gibbs would likely mean a loss to Goff’s former team and a damaging hit to Detroit’s 2025 outlook, even if it sets up another strong performance the following week.
On his own, Gibbs has been excellent, and blaming him for the team’s struggles would miss the point. The larger concern is that the Lions have not proven they can win when Gibbs has a down game. With time running out, Detroit cannot afford more inconsistency.
To truly save the season and keep Super Bowl hopes alive, the Lions must finally do what they haven’t done in months: stack strong performances back to back. That run needed to begin with the Cowboys win. If it didn’t, inconsistency, not injuries, may end up defining this season.