After a huge outing against the Washington Commanders in Week 10, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was a relative no-show against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the Week 11 Sunday Night Football matchup.
Facing a 13-6 deficit heading into the third quarter, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions offense need to find a way to get their dynamic running back involved in the game plan if they want to take down the Eagles.
What Happened to Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs?
No, Gibbs is not hurt; in fact, Gibbs has started in all nine games for the Lions this season. While an incredibly dynamic back, Gibbs was held in check in the first half of the Lions’ Sunday Night Football matchup against Philadelphia, getting five carries for eight yards along with one reception for four yards.
This is a far cry from the dominant Week 10 outing he had against the Commanders. Gibbs ran wild for 142 yards on 15 carries, scoring two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 30 yards and an additional score, giving him a hat trick against Washington.
Gibbs is off to another impressive season after a productive rookie year. In nine games, he has rushed 128 times for 693 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also caught 32 of 35 targets for 227 yards and two more touchdowns. The Lions realized what they needed to do during halftime, getting Gibbs two receptions on Detroit’s opening drive of the second half for 28 yards.
With the rushing game not working as the Lions intended, quarterback Jared Goff and Gibbs can simulate the rushing game with screens as the running back’s speed allows him to get to the edge before Philadelphia’s defenders can set it. However, at some point, they will have to find some rushing lanes, as Detroit’s offense reaches another level when play-action can be utilized.
The Lions have a solid offense, ranking sixth in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metric with a score of 85.6. They’ve also been able to stay in this game with a top-ten defense, ranking seventh in PFSN’s Defensive Impact metric with a score of 81.2.
Interestingly, both scores are higher than those of the Eagles. However, despite some unforced errors, the Lions have not been able to capitalize on the fact that they have the better units. With the offense starting to turn it on, can the Lions close the gap on the scoreboard and get a huge road win?
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.