Lions Hold Off Jets 31-24 at Ford Field to Rebound From Bills Loss
The short version
- Detroit defeated the New York Jets 31-24 at Ford Field in Week 3, one week after a lopsided loss to the Buffalo Bills.
- The Lions held Breece Hall to 32 rushing yards on 13 carries after allowing Buffalo 203 rushing yards in Week 2.
- The win echoed Week 1, when the Saints forced overtime; the Jets came within 28 yards of doing the same.
- Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs have been highly efficient through three weeks despite continued slow offensive starts.
- The Lions have two games remaining before their bye week.
Detroit limited Breece Hall to 32 rushing yards and leaned on Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs in a Week 3 home win, with two games remaining before its bye.
The Detroit Lions held off the New York Jets 31-24 at Ford Field on Sunday, September 27, a Week 3 result that came one week after a lopsided loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Dan Campbell had predicted a hard-fought game against Aaron Glenn's team, and the one-score finish matched that expectation.
Detroit opened its season with a win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 before the defeat in Buffalo. The Lions now face two games ahead of their bye week, and the victory over the Jets left the team with a mixed review: some units showed progress from the Bills game, while others remain problem areas.
Both of Detroit's wins have followed a similar script. The Lions built an early lead against the Saints in Week 1 and watched New Orleans force overtime; against the Jets, Detroit again led early before New York drove to within 28 yards of forcing overtime as well. In each case, a Lions miscue — penalties in Week 1, a turnover on downs in Week 3 — breathed life into the opposition.
The clearest improvement came against the run. Buffalo had gashed Detroit for 203 rushing yards on 36 carries in Week 2, but the Jets managed little on the ground: Breece Hall carried 13 times for 32 yards, and backup Braelon Allen added 14 yards on four attempts. New York, playing from behind early, still had chances to establish its running game and could not.
The secondary also improved, with Christian Izien turning in the standout performance, though questions about the group remain. An eventual return from Brian Branch would add versatility alongside Izien in the slot and in the box. At cornerback, Roger McCreary saw expanded playing time against the Jets and outperformed Rock Ya-Sin without settling the position, while Ennis Rakestraw handled his limited snaps well and could receive a longer look in the coming weeks.
As has been the case all season, the offense carried Detroit. Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs have been near-flawless through three weeks, and the passing game spreads the ball widely enough to absorb a quiet afternoon from Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The offensive line rediscovered its form with Blake Miller back at right tackle. Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa each hauled in impactful catches, and Sione Vaki also chipped in on that side of the ball.
Slow starts remain the offense's main flaw. Five of Detroit's first six drives against the Saints ended in a punt or a turnover, its first two possessions against the Bills combined for seven plays and minus-1 yard, and the Jets game began with two punts and a field goal. The group has the talent to correct the pattern.
The bottom line for Detroit: a 31-24 win that steadied the Lions after a rough afternoon in Buffalo and left two more games to clean up the remaining issues before the bye week.
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