It took him seven weeks, but Jahmyr Gibbs finally broke — and the timing couldn’t have been better.
The Lions’ star running back had 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts and added three carries for 82 yards, good for 218 yards in a 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night in Detroit.
“It was huge. You felt like it was coming,” Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters of Gibbs’ performance after the win. “You felt like it was building and as he gets in better shape and starts to get his feet under him and starts to feel it – starts to break some tackles. Every week you feel like it’s gotten closer and closer. Tonight was the night where he snapped one of those out there and there’s no looking back.
“I think he’s just going to continue to do that. So, our O-line did a good job in areas of getting into the second level. Sure, we’ve got to continue to improve there but that’s all you have to do. If you can get him to the second level, he’ll do the rest. We’re lucky because our O-line can open some holes in and we have him, which is the safety with him.
On a night when Jared Goff never looked comfortable and was responsible for two turnovers, Gibbs’ contributions were essential to Detroit’s cause. He didn’t wait long to get involved, either, catching a 30-yard pass on the second play from scrimmage to the Lions’ opening goal and following it up by breaking through Tampa Bay’s defense for a 78-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give Detroit a 14-0 lead.
“Those long ones are fun to watch,” Goff said of Gibbs’ 78-yarder. “I feel like I got the best seat in the house just to kind of see him take a hit and then kind of take off. I don’t know how many safeties in the league could catch him. So, as soon as he gets there, it’s over and he’s gone. It felt like last year, the Titans run, the 70-yard dash. It was very similar, where it was over the safety, and it was just like him, where it was over. cool He’s fast and it’s fun to watch.”