The Detroit Lions honored their status as favorites when they took the field at Allianz Arena on Sunday. The defense made plays, the offense found lanes, and they beat the New England Patriots 35-10 in a game that was all but over by halftime.
Dan Campbell's team didn't need to keep their foot on the gas and even pulled Jared Goff out of the game late in the fourth quarter. It was a well-rounded effort against a struggling team that was missing Drake Maye after an early injury.
While this win might not be a barometer to determine whether this team is ready to compete for a Super Bowl, there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic. Without further ado, let's discuss the three main takeaways from this big win.
3 main takeaways from the Lions' dominant win over the Patriots
Jahmyr Gibbs is the best weapon in football
This has been evident for a while now, but he continues to make his case. Jahmyr Gibbs is a one-man driving force in Detroit. Whether it's out of the backfield or lining up wide like a receiver, he's been instrumental in Drew Petzing's success.
Once again, Gibbs kept the Lions' offense ahead of the sticks in this one, having one of the best games of his breakout season. He had 252 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, leading the team with 99 receiving yards.
Gibbs' agility, lateral quickness, and ability to turn the corner have made him the most dangerous running back in the game. At this point, he should be the leading candidate to win Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Is it time to be worried about Jared Goff?
Jared Goff put up big numbers in this one again, completing 20 of 31 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Then again, he also threw a couple of picks, and this is starting to become a worrisome trend.
Goff went the first six games of the regular season without giving the ball away, but he's now thrown at least one interception in three consecutive contests. He's never been one to put the ball in harm's way, but still.
Maybe this is just a blip on the radar, and there's nothing to be worried about. Also, the Lions kept the damage to a minimum on both of those turnovers. That said, Goff must go back to basics and take better care of the football.
The defense continues to get better
Some might say that this defensive performance wasn't surprising because it came mostly against Tommy DeVito. While that might make sense to a degree, he was only on the field because Drake Maye got hurt after an Aidan Hutchinson sack.
Regardless of the Patriots' injuries or whatnot, the Lions' defense has looked better by the week. They're not getting burned in coverage, and they're limiting splash plays much better than they did earlier in the season.
You can only beat whoever is in front of you. Moreover, holding any team to just 12 first downs and 151 total yards, with five sacks and one interception, will always be a reason to celebrate, especially for this defense.
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