With legendary running back Barry Sanders in attendance, you just knew Jahmyr Gibbs had to put on a show.
The Detroit Lions needed all 164 of Gibbs' yards from scrimmage to stave off the New York Jets' comeback attempt on Sunday.
Sanders, who was in attendance to support the team's campaign for his former offensive tackle Lomas Brown's Hall of Fame candidacy, watched as Gibbs accounted for three of the Lions' four touchdowns, all in the second half. Gibbs' first rushing TD was especially Sanders-esque, cutting back from a would-be five-yard loss into a 17-yard score.
Speaking to the media after the game, quarterback Jared Goff was asked about that play to kick off his postgame presser, which Goff jokingly points out, "He wouldn't have gotten it if I didn't get the block for him, right?"
Goff then called the run "awesome," adding, "He's so explosive and nifty with the ball in his hands. We just try to get to him in space, and he typically does the rest."
Gibbs' explosive game continued with a second rushing TD, this time a one-yard rush to start the fourth quarter. On the drive, Gibbs rushed the ball seven times for 32 yards.
But his biggest TD was his third and final one of the game. The Jets had just tied the game at 24, thanks to a Geno Smith TD pass to Garrett Wilson, and the Lions needed score. It took the Lions four plays to get down the field, three them being Gibbs touches, including a lob pass from Goff that Gibbs took to the house from 11-yards out.
All in all, it was an excellent rebound game for Gibbs. While he had 113 yards from scrimmage and a receiving TD in the loss against Buffalo, he was quiet on the ground, with 52 rushing yards.
This week, he picked up 99 on the ground against an Aaron Glenn defense that had allowed 131 rushing yards total entering Week 3. In doing so, he also managed to surpass Lions rushing royalty.
Gibbs moves up the franchise rushing ranks
Its performances like this that has already solidified Gibbs' status as one of the franchise's best rushers ever, and one of the best rushers in the league. He continues to prove that by moving up the franchise ranks.
With his second rushing TD, Gibbs passed Billy Sims for second-most rushing TDs in franchise history (43). Gibbs surpasses Sims in eight fewer games, just under 400 fewer attempts, and with 34 fewer fumbles.
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Gibbs still has a ways to go to reach Sanders' franchise record of 99 rushing TDs, with an even bigger gap between the two in rushing yards. Gibbs' 3,887 rushing yards is good for sixth in franchise history, well below Sanders' 15,269. With 47 rushing yards next week against the Carolina Panthers, he will break into the top-five, passing 1960s-era fullback Nick Pietrosante (3,933).
He'll get a great chance to make progress on both fronts against a Panthers team that has allowed an average of 193.33 rushing yards per game, with a season low being 132 against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Despite giving up big yardage, the Panthers haven't allowed a rushing TD since Week 1, when they allowed six against the Chicago Bears.
So far, Gibbs has lived to his promise as a bell cow RB this season and, like pitcher Justin Verlander in his peak days with the Detroit Tigers, he'll be must-see TV on Sunday Night Football this Sunday.
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