When Jahmyr Gibbs broke free for a 69-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime at Ford Field, the roar wasn’t just loud—it was desperate, relieved, and absolutely necessary. The Detroit Lions had clawed back from two double-digit deficits, survived a brutal fourth quarter, and then watched their playoff hopes hang by a thread—until Gibbs turned a simple handoff into a miracle. It was 34-27, November 23, 2025. The New York Giants had dominated statistically. But in football, sometimes one play erases everything else.
The Comeback That Almost Wasn’t
The Lions entered Week 12 at 7-4, technically above .500 but buried in the NFC playoff race. No one was calling them contenders. Then they fell behind 17-0 in the first half. Then 24-14 in the third. And then, with 2:18 left in the fourth, they were down 27-17. The Giants, led by Jameis Winston, had thrown for 366 yards. Their running back, Tracy, had ripped off 156 yards on just nine carries. The Lions’ offense? Sputtering. Their defense? Exhausted. But then came Gibbs.
He’d already caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff in the second quarter. He’d already turned a screen into a 49-yard scamper that cut the deficit to 27-24 with 5:03 left. Now, with 1:18 on the clock and no timeouts, Goff fired a 14-yard dart to Amon-Ra St. Brown—the former Michigan Wolverine—to get the Lions into field goal range. Then, a 12-yard run by Gibbs. Then, a pass interference call on third-and-10. And finally, a 27-yard field goal by Riley Patterson to tie it at 27. The Giants had 1:18 left. They couldn’t move the ball. The game went to overtime.
Overtime: One Play, One Player
The coin toss mattered. The Lions won. And when Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called the run—outside zone, right tackle—no one in the stadium doubted it would work. Not after what Gibbs had done all day.
He took the handoff, slipped a tackle at the line, cut back inside, then exploded through a seam left by a missed block. One Giant defender lunged. He missed. Another came from the sideline. Gibbs juke’d him like he was standing still. Then he was gone—past the 50, past the 30, past the 10. The crowd went silent for half a second. Then it exploded. 69 yards. Touchdown. Game over.
“It was a must win,” Gibbs said afterward, sweat dripping, helmet still on. “We knew if we lost this one, everything we built since Week 1 starts crumbling.”
Statistical Dominance, Moral Victory
Winston threw for 366 yards on 20-of-62. That’s not a typo. Sixty-two attempts. He had two touchdowns, but also two critical sacks in overtime. The Giants had 458 total yards. The Lions had 403. But the Lions had Gibbs: 219 rushing yards (third-highest in franchise history), 45 receiving, three total touchdowns, 11 receptions—a career high. He touched the ball 32 times. He was the offense. He was the defense’s nightmare. He was the reason Detroit didn’t drop to 7-5.
“We stopped him several times,” Johnson said, half-smiling. “But he got away that last time.”
And then there was Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions’ captain, the defensive anchor, the guy who’s been the face of Detroit’s rebuild since 2021. On fourth-and-5 at the Detroit 31, with the Giants trying to extend the game, Hutchinson looped around right tackle, shed a block, and dragged Winston down for a 7-yard sack. The ball never moved. The crowd chanted his name. The game was over.
What This Means for the Playoff Race
The Lions are now 8-4. They’re one game behind the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, but they’ve won four of their last five. More importantly, they’ve avoided their first back-to-back losses since 2022. The Giants? They’re 3-8. Five straight road losses. Their playoff hopes? Gone. Winston’s 62 attempts? A symptom of a team that can’t run and can’t protect.
Meanwhile, Gibbs—22 years old, drafted 12th overall last year—is being whispered about as the new Chris Johnson. Not because he’s faster (though he’s close). But because he’s unguardable in space. He’s the kind of player who changes how defenses approach an entire game. The Detroit Lions didn’t just win on Sunday. They found their franchise running back.
What’s Next?
The Lions host the Minnesota Vikings next week. The Giants fly to Washington to face the Commanders. Detroit’s path to the playoffs now runs through the NFC North—and they’ve proven they can win ugly, win close, and win with one player carrying the load. Gibbs has 1,287 scrimmage yards in 11 games. He’s on pace for 1,800. If he keeps this up, the Lions won’t just make the playoffs. They’ll be dangerous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jahmyr Gibbs’ performance compare to other Lions running backs?
Gibbs’ 219 rushing yards were the third-highest single-game total in Detroit Lions history, trailing only Barry Sanders’ 237 in 1997 and 225 in 1990. His 264 total yards from scrimmage were the most by a Lions back since 2004. No Lions running back has ever recorded 11 receptions and over 200 rushing yards in the same game.
Why was Jameis Winston’s 62 pass attempts significant?
Winston’s 62 attempts were the most by any NFL quarterback since 2020 and the highest for the Giants since 2018. It highlighted a complete breakdown in their running game and offensive line protection. Only three times in NFL history has a QB thrown 60+ passes and still lost by more than 6 points.
What impact does this win have on Detroit’s playoff chances?
Before this game, the Lions were 7-4 and outside the top 7 in the NFC. Now at 8-4, they’re tied for the 6th seed. With three divisional games left—including two against the Packers—they control their destiny. A win next week puts them in the top 5. A loss and they’re back to needing help.
How did Aidan Hutchinson’s sack in overtime change the game?
That sack on fourth-and-5 at the Detroit 31 ended the Giants’ final drive and prevented them from even attempting a field goal. It was Hutchinson’s 10th sack of the season and his third game-sealing stop in overtime this year. The Giants had scored on all four of their previous OT possessions this season. This was the first time they failed to score.
Is Jahmyr Gibbs now the NFL’s top running back?
He’s not officially ranked #1 yet—but he’s in the conversation. After this game, he’s tied for second in rushing touchdowns (12) and leads all backs in receptions (71). His 9.3 yards per touch leads the league. Analysts are comparing him to Christian McCaffrey in versatility and Chris Johnson in explosiveness. The NFL’s next great back might already be in Detroit.
Why was Ben Johnson referred to as “Kafka” in some reports?
That was a transcription error from a live audio feed. Ben Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022, is known for his innovative play-calling and quiet demeanor. “Kafka” likely resulted from misheard audio during a noisy sideline interview. The team confirmed Johnson’s name was correctly recorded in official game logs.