DETROIT -- Before Jahmyr Gibbs took the field for the most significant regular-season game of his young career, he received some words of wisdom from his idol, Lions legend Barry Sanders.
"Go get it," Sanders said as he shared a quick handshake with Gibbs.
By the end of the game, the 22-year-old running back had made history.
In Detroit's 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, Gibbs had a career performance, scoring four touchdowns and helping the Lions secure the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time. The victory also marked their second consecutive NFC North title and earned them a first-round playoff bye.
"We're obviously having a better season this year, and I think everybody is still counting us out a little bit, so being able to shut them up a little bit feels good," Gibbs told ESPN. He became the first Lions player since Sanders in 1991 to lead the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns, finishing with 20 this season. Gibbs also set a new single-season franchise record for touchdowns.
No Lions running back had scored four touchdowns in a game since Sanders did so in 1991, also against the Vikings.
"Just being able to have a record close to his, or I broke it, but being in the same talk with him is just crazy," Gibbs said.
Before entering the NFL, Gibbs was a huge fan of Sanders, watching his highlights religiously. He also admired LeSean McCoy, and throughout this season, he's referred to some of his own spin-move plays as "kind of Barryish."
"I didn’t watch a lot of NFL games, but I would watch a lot of highlights," Gibbs said. "He was one of the main people. Him and LeSean McCoy."
Lions head coach Dan Campbell praised Gibbs for being the team's "X factor" in the win. Gibbs finished with 23 carries for 139 yards, plus five receptions for 31 yards.
The game was historic in its own right, as it marked the first regular-season matchup in NFL history between two teams with 13 or more wins. The Vikings entered with a 14-2 record.
"He was big, and I felt like he gained steam as the game went on," Campbell said. "I thought he got better and better, and you could really feel it."
Though Gibbs struggled early, gaining only 1 yard on his first six carries, one play turned everything around. With 1:43 remaining in the first quarter, he sprinted through the middle for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. He added a 10-yard reception for a touchdown in the third quarter, pushing Detroit’s lead to 17-9.
His two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns sealed the win as he delivered in front of Sanders, his favorite player.
"He was special today, and we needed him to be," said Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Goff completed 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
With a 15-2 record and a perfect 8-0 mark on the road, the Lions wrapped up their regular season with a franchise-record number of victories and became only the sixth team in NFL history to score 70 touchdowns in a season, according to ESPN Research.
Despite earning the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time since seeding began in 1975, Lions players weren't satisfied. As they sported their new NFC North championship gear, their eyes were already set on the bigger prize: a Super Bowl title.
"We’re happy about this. This is what we needed. But it’s that 24-hour rule," said Lions cornerback Amik Robertson, who recorded five tackles in the game. "We know what our goal is; we’re going to get rest. We were able to come up short last year, so we know what our goal is: Enjoy this victory and get back to the lab because we understand what we want to do."
0 Comments