In a thrilling encounter at M&T Bank Stadium, the Detroit Lions delivered a standout performance against the Baltimore Ravens, securing a 28-21 victory. Sit-around-and-cheer quarterback Jared Goff directed that offensive explosion with pin-point accuracy, going 20 for 28 for 202 yards and one touchdown. The Lions’ offense executed a well-balanced attack, highlighted by running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who each contributed two rushing touchdowns.
The Lions quickly went to work establishing their dominance on the offensive side. On fourth-and-two from their own 49-yard line, Goff completed a huge 21-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. This connection really opened the flood gates and led to a string of successful drives and a scoring barrage.
Montgomery shined during the game, amassing a remarkable 151 rushing yards, including a critical 31-yard touchdown run with just 1:42 remaining, which pushed Detroit’s lead to 14 points. This was the Lions’ most important late-game point, as it made their one-point lead safe from erasure. This was even withstanding a raging late onslaught by the Ravens.
The Ravens, under the indomitable Lamar Jackson, pushed hard in response. Jackson threw his third touchdown pass of the night. He hit Mark Andrews for a speedy 27-yarder, with only 29 seconds remaining on the clock. He tied the game 14-14 earlier in the contest with a three-yard TD pass to Rashod Bateman. This exhilarating play was right before halftime.
Even with Jackson’s star performance, the Lions’ defense turned out to be a nearly unsurmountable roadblock. They sacked Jackson seven times on the night. This constant pressure upset his rhythm and made it difficult for him to build a consistent offensive flow.
“To get seven sacks [against Jackson] is insane, hats off to our defense,” said St. Brown following the game.
The Lions were very surgical and precise with every aspect of their offensive plan. Goff emphasized their execution after the game, stating, “We did exactly what we wanted to do, sustained long drives.” This careful and deliberate style of play calling combined with their strong defense helped them set the tone and pace of the game.
Montgomery was a major talent and decorated player. On the other side of the ball, Gibbs displayed his playmaking ability by scoring easily after getting a lateral from St. Brown, who faked an end around before running the play. This multi-faceted nature to their offensive approach forced the Ravens’ defense to play from behind for the entirety of the game.
Jackson certainly flashed the occasional brilliance throughout his time in the saddle. His fumble on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line turned out to be a key turning point, allowing Detroit to maintain their lead. Allowing this mistake to fester became quite costly, as it removed a strong scoring chance from Baltimore’s grasp.
As the game entered the second half, the state champs Jackson connected with Andrews for a 14-yard TD pass. He wanted to galvanize his squad back into playoff contention. Even with these efforts, the Ravens still were no match for the Lions’ stifling defensive effort and multi-faceted offensive onslaught.