By George Eichorn
The Detroit Lions were muddling along, trailing the New York Giants the entire game at Ford Field. Then, like a light bulb went on, the Lions torched their opposition to move to 7-4 in the torrid NFC North.
Before another sell-out crowd of 64,238 in downtown Detroit, Coach Dan Campbell’s highly favored team let the 2-9 Giants control the majority of the game. At times it appears the Lions were sleepwalking against the visitors, trailing by double digits a good part of the game.
Then Detroit awoke – like an angry lion in the jungle at the sight of his prey – as they marched down the field in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. Kicker Jake Bates nailed a 59-yard field goal under perfect conditions in the domed stadium, tying the game at 27-27, as the fourth quarter closed.
Lions rusher Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the NFL’s premier runners, had a spectacular day. He capped off the Lions comeback win with a 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime. Then came the Giants’ final chance to score in OT. Lions defensive all-pro Aidan Hutchinson’s massive quarterback sack of Jameis Winston secured the gritty 34-27 victory in overtime for Detroit.
Gibbs is one of pro football’s most explosive weapons. He had a 49-yard TD run in the fourth quarter plus the 69-yarder; totalling 219 yards with 2 touchdowns on 15 rushes. He also netted 45 yards on 11 receptions with 1 TD; for a total 264 yards combined and 3 scores. All in a day’s work for the best open-field weapon in my humble opinion.
“I just do whatever it takes to win, Gibbs said after the Lions victory. “I wasn’t really thinking about carrying the team. I just do whatever it takes to win. Whatever they call me for; want me to do. So, that was really my mindset.”
Regarding the Lions home-field advantage at noisy Ford Field, Gibbs said “You know how we do in the den. Everybody came out, they showed out, showed love; let’s go Lions.”
Next up are the second-place Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit’s traditional holiday matinee. Detroit is a half-game behind the Packers and both teams are behind the division-leading Chicago Bears, at 8-3. Ford Field will be loud and excited for the 1:00 p.m. kickoff on FOX.
It’s a traditional game which late Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt tried numerous time to get the NFL owners to rotate among other franchises. He was unsuccessful at his attempts. The Ford family and the Ford Motor Company would have nothing of the sort!
South Florida Tribune owner Scott Morganroth once asked Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about the Hunt trying to wrestle away the Detroit tradition; he threw his support to the Fords. Jones and Cowboys (5-5-1) host Thursday’s second game against the Chiefs (5-5), 4:30 p.m. on CBS. The third game, Cincinnati (3-8) versus Baltimore (6-5) is 8:20 p.m. on NBC.
