The Detroit Lions powered their way to a statement 38-30 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, showcasing a dominant defense that relentlessly harassed Lamar Jackson and a rushing attack that could not be stopped.
Detroit’s defense was the story of the night, sacking Jackson seven times and limiting Baltimore to just 85 rushing yards while piling up 224 of their own. The Lions imposed their will in the trenches, repeatedly driving down the field with long, clock-consuming drives that kept the Ravens on the back foot.
The backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery delivered in a big way, each scoring twice. Montgomery was particularly explosive, rushing for 151 yards, including a game-sealing 31-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Gibbs added a clever trick-play touchdown early in the fourth quarter, taking a pitch from Amon-Ra St. Brown to punch it in from four yards out.
Quarterback Jared Goff was efficient and poised, completing 20 of 28 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. He also delivered a clutch fourth-down strike to St. Brown late in the game that set up Montgomery’s decisive score. St. Brown continued to shine as a reliable target, contributing key catches in high-pressure moments.
The Ravens, normally dominant in primetime home games, looked unusually vulnerable. Despite Jackson’s three touchdown passes — two of them to tight end Mark Andrews — Baltimore struggled to protect their quarterback and could not establish a consistent running game. Derrick Henry briefly provided a spark with a 28-yard touchdown run, but a costly fumble in the fourth quarter shifted momentum back to Detroit.
A pivotal sequence came just before halftime when Baltimore, sitting at the Lions’ one-yard line, failed to score after three straight attempts. That stand galvanized Detroit, who turned their defensive momentum into sustained offensive success.
Even with late-game heroics from Jackson, including a 27-yard strike to Andrews with 29 seconds left, the Ravens could not overcome Detroit’s physical dominance. A failed two-point attempt and unsuccessful onside kick sealed the result.
The Lions, now 2-1, have sent a strong message to the rest of the league with back-to-back offensive explosions and a defense that rose to the challenge against one of the NFL’s most elusive quarterbacks. For Baltimore, the defeat marks a rare home stumble and raises questions about their ability to withstand physical teams in the trenches.
