As the Detroit Lions enter Week 12, the formula for beating the New York Giants isn’t complicated, doesn’t require overthinking, and doesn’t hinge on a reinvented November identity. It comes down to leaning on the most explosive player on their roster: Jahmyr Gibbs.
In a game where Detroit can seize even greater control of their NFC playoff trajectory, Gibbs’ dynamism becomes the defining factor in exploiting a Giants defense that has struggled all year to stop the run, despite the individual talent scattered across its front.
Names aren’t the issue for New York. All-Pro Dexter Lawrence, rookie Abdul Carter -- who's already flashing why he went top-five back in April -- and edge threats Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. Behind them, Bobby Okereke remains one of the more consistent and rangy linebackers in the conference.
Gibbs is key to Lions blowing the door wide open against Giants
On a depth chart, the personnel looks like a group built to dominate early downs and dictate game flow. But, football isn't played on a spreadsheet.
All year long, the results haven’t matched the résumé. The Giants have been one of the league’s worst run defenses in 2025, allowing 149.9 rushing yards a game (31st in the NFL), consistently giving up chunk plays, failing to set edges, and struggling to close creases at the second level. For an offense like Detroit’s -- one that works best when physicality and finesse blend together -- the opportunity is right in front of their face.
For Gibbs, he enters the matchup playing some of the best football of his career. Few backs in the league possess his combination of legit 4.2 speed and lateral glide that makes defenders miss before they can even react. Over his last month of action, he’s eclipsed 100 rushing yards in half of his games, including 136 yards and two touchdowns in Week 7 against Tampa Bay and 142 yards and two scores in Week 10 at Washington.
Even in games where he’s been held in check -- Week 9 against Minnesota or Week 11 against Philadelphia -- Gibbs remains the focus for defenses when they approach the line of scrimmage.
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And that’s why Week 12 should be simple for Detroit: mid-November football demands physicality, and physicality doesn’t mean predictable. With Gibbs, the Lions can stress New York’s defense horizontally, vertically, and structurally.
Inside zone, outside zone, counters, swing passes, angle routes (watch the Washington tape), whatever way Detroit chooses to deploy him, he stresses the Giants’ linebackers and forces their defensive front to run, chase, and tackle in space.
Yes, Jared Goff’s ability to distribute matters. Yes, Detroit’s perimeter weapons can create problems. But this is the kind of matchup where giving your best athlete the ball early and often can break a game open.
If the Lions feed Gibbs and he finds rhythm on the ground, this one may not remain competitive for long -- not with the way he can impact a ballgame.