Lions Beat Buccaneers with Gibbs in the Spotlight

He turned down the suggestion.

It was clear he wasn’t exhausted.

Jahmil Gibbs had a standout performance, sprinting for a touchdown in the second quarter and diving for another in the third, racking up a personal best of 218 yards in total offense as the Detroit Lions triumphed over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9, on Monday night.

“You should have expected this,” said Lions manager Dan Campbell. “This has been on the horizon.”

The Lions (5-2) managed to maintain an impressive record over nearly three years, bouncing back nicely to avoid consecutive losses, marking the NFL’s longest streak at 51 games.

“The players came through, just as I anticipated,” Campbell mentioned.

Tampa Bay (5-2) found themselves trailing by over 200 yards at halftime, yet managed to keep it close at 14-3 despite several missed opportunities, including an interception and a fumble.

Rookie Tez Johnson kicked off the second half with a 22-yard touchdown catch, narrowing the gap to five points, but Gibbs wasn’t going to let up.

On the following drive, he dashed for 15 yards and caught a pass for 28 yards, scoring again and extending Detroit’s lead to 21-9 as the third quarter wound down.

Gibbs, in his third year, had a remarkable 136 yards rushing on 17 carries alongside 82 yards receiving on just three catches, just shy of a record for the franchise in this century.

He became the first NFL player since Chris Johnson in 2009 to achieve at least 135 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns in a game.

“He’s an exceptionally skilled running back who can find gaps and make big plays,” said Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Jared Goff of Detroit completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the opening drive. However, Goff also fumbled and threw an interception during crucial moments. Both plays occurred in Tampa Bay’s territory.

Baker Mayfield totaled 228 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but he struggled against a depleted defense. An incomplete pass in the end zone with just over four minutes left dashed any hopes for a comeback.

“As a group, we just didn’t execute well,” Mayfield admitted. “When the defense knows we have to throw, it becomes a disadvantage for our offensive line.”

Gibbs showcased his speed with a stunning 78-yard run late in the second quarter, marking the longest run of his career and giving Detroit a solid 14-0 lead.

“If we can get him past the initial defense, he’ll take care of the rest,” Campbell emphasized.

After Detroit’s Jake Bates missed a 54-yard field goal, Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin managed to score with a 53-yarder just before halftime, putting the Buccaneers on the board.

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Bates finally got on the board early in the fourth quarter with a 58-yard field goal, further extending the Lions’ lead to 24-9.

“They’re a tough team to face right now,” Bowles commented. “The crowd was electrifying, but we didn’t execute. They played exceptionally well.”

The Lions have now secured a 13-3 record in night games under Campbell and extended their winning streak to five consecutive Monday Night Football games.