Jahmyr Gibbs's career day leads Lions to comeback win vs. Giants
The Detroit Lions were pushed to their limits on Sunday.
Despite giving up 517 total yards to Jameis Winston and the New York Giants, Detroit was able to escape with a 34-27 overtime win and improve its record to 7-4 this season.
The comeback win was highlighted by a career performance from running back Jahmyr Gibbs on a day when his team needed it most.
Jahmyr Gibbs' stellar performance
Gibbs is undoubtedly one of the top running backs in the NFL right now, and that was put on full display in Sunday's win.
Gibbs tallied 219 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. That was good for 14.6 yards per carry, and it included his 69-yard rushing touchdown on the Lions' first snap in overtime.
Along the rushing yards, Gibbs added a season high 11 catches for 45 yards and a receiving touchdown.
In total, Gibbs tallied 264 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. Three touchdowns in a game ties a season high for Gibbs, while the 264 scrimmage yards are both the most this season as well as in his career.
Defensive concerns?
As we noted above, Detroit did allow over 500 yards to a bad Giants offense. It was an uncharacteristic performance from a Lions defense that ranked fifth in the NFL in yards allowed headed into Sunday.
Upcoming games against the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams will certainly test Detroit's defense down the home stretch of the season.
Mike Tomlin provides promising update on Aaron Rodgers’ recovery after Steelers’ tough loss
Aaron Rodgers was held out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-28 Week 12 loss to the Chicago Bears due to a fracture in his left wrist. The veteran quarterback reportedly wanted to play (big surprise), but the Steelers erred on the side of caution and went with backup Mason Rudolph.
With Rudolph at the helm, the Steelers were unable to best the Bears. To make matters worse, the loss cost them their lead in the AFC North, as they were jumped over by the Baltimore Ravens.
Mike Tomlin expects Aaron Rodgers to play in Week 13
Would things have turned out differently if Rodgers had played against Chicago? Perhaps, but we’ll never know. All Pittsburgh can do now is look ahead, and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin provided a promising update on Rodgers after the loss to Chicago.
"I anticipate him being ready for next week [against the Buffalo Bills]," Tomlin said. "It was a prudent decision to make. Certainly, it wasn't a fluid week for him. It was a fluid week for Mason in terms of reps and so forth, and so I think it'll be in our rear view as we move forward. I'm hopeful of that."
Obviously, it’s good news for the Steelers that Rodgers’ wrist injury won’t cost him additional weeks on the sideline, as they’ll need him for the stretch run of the season, especially now that they’ve lost the lead in the division.
The Steelers have six games left on the schedule this season, including two matchups with the Ravens – one in Baltimore and one in Pittsburgh. Those two contests will likely go a long way towards determining which team will ultimately win the division.
The Steelers can’t afford to look ahead to the Ravens, though. In Week 13 they’ll face a tough Bills team that will be hungry for a win after losing to the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football this week. At least the Steelers should have their starting quarterback for that one.
