Pride of Detroit
Jayden Daniels or not, that felt like a small slice of revenge for last season’s playoff upset — but more importantly, it gave the Detroit Lions and their fan base a much-needed confidence boost as they found their mojo again, manhandling the Washington Commanders, 44–22.
Dan Campbell looked every bit the dad at the local Applebee’s on a Friday night, grabbing his wife’s reader glasses to scan the draft beer list—and then called a game as masterfully as that same dad executes a perfectly timed “clear the ocean floor” announcement when the food arrives.
With Campbell taking over play-calling, Detroit got back to basics to rediscover its identity. Less zone, more gap-scheme runs. Less shotgun, more under center. Fewer straight dropbacks, more play action. Fewer multiple-tight-end sets, more jumbo looks with extra linemen. Campbell turned every knob in the right direction during the recalibration.
The Commanders aren’t the team they were last year, but this was still a much-needed win—and an impressive one at that. Plenty of stocks deserve to rise accordingly.
Stock up: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
The Commanders still haven’t found an answer for Jahmyr Gibbs, who picked up right where he left off from their postseason meeting. His performance carried echoes of his multiple-touchdown showcase against the Buccaneers on Monday night earlier this season. While his 172 total yards weren’t quite the 218 he racked up against Todd Bowles’ defense, the quality of this performance might’ve been even better—arguably Gibbs’ most complete game of the season.
Gibbs’ 142 rushing yards marked a season-high and the second-best total of his career, while his 9.5 yards per carry ranked third-best since he was drafted. This was also just the second time in his young career he’s found the end zone more than twice in a game. His 68.4% offensive success rate—the sixth-highest of his career and best of the season—underscored just how consistent and efficient he was. He also posted a 26.7% explosive run rate (four explosive runs, a career high), the fifth-highest mark of his career and another season best.
With his latest outing, Gibbs joined rare company—four Hall of Fame greats, in fact: Barry Sanders, Randy Moss, Emmitt Smith, and Jim Brown—as the only players to score 40+ touchdowns before turning 24. He also joined Sanders as the only players in franchise history to surpass 4,000 scrimmage yards through their first three seasons.
Dan Campbell noted that Gibbs was as upset as anyone after the Vikings loss and played with a chip on his shoulder—and it showed. He ran with purpose and played with edge. Beyond the stat sheet, he delivered an effort block that sprung Kalif Raymond for a little daylight on a screen and also decimated linebacker Jordan Magee on a Texas route for his first touchdown. When he’s rolling like that, there’s no reason not to keep feeding Gibbs—and maybe call one of those Texas routes every week.
Stock up: Jameson Williams, WR
Woodshop substitute teacher Dan Campbell, armed with his spiffy new spectacles, finally...
