Studs and Duds: Gibbs Runs Wild in Fourth Quarter
A historic ride continues for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions.
The third-year coach has piloted his team to the NFC Championship Game for only the second time in franchise history. An organization once riddled with the stench of losing has found its way among the final four teams standing.
The latest step on this journey came Sunday, with a 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A trip to San Francisco, with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, now awaits.
Here are the studs and duds from Sunday's game.
STUD: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
With the Lions' offense needing a spark in the second half, the rookie Gibbs provided it and more. With the game tied at 17 apiece in the fourth quarter, the Alabama product nearly single-handedly put his team on top.
The Lions' go-ahead touchdown drive covered 75 yards in five plays, with four being touches for Gibbs. The last was Gibbs' 31-yard touchdown, which featured a burst of speed through an open hole, followed by a cut to out-run safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Gibbs finished with 74 rushing yards on just nine carries, while adding 40 receiving yards on four catches.
DUD: CB Cam Sutton
The struggles against top receivers continued for the Lions' defense, as an opposing wide receiver went over 100 yards for the fifth straight week. Mike Evans hauled in eight passes for 147 yards and a score working primarily against Sutton.
Evans beat Sutton on back-to-back plays for big gains late in the second quarter, including a 29-yard pass to set up the game-tying touchdown going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Sutton was beaten by Evans for a score. Baker Mayfield finished with 349 yards passing, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
STUD: S Ifeatu Melifonwu
The Lions' defensive gameplan involved a number of unique blitzes. Both Melifonwu and Brian Branch each recorded sacks after going unblocked past the line of scrimmage.
Melifonwu finished with 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hits, while Branch finished with a sack and two tackles for loss. Both players tied for the team-high mark in tackles with nine.
The secondary was able to generate a takeaway in the form of C.J. Gardner-Johnson's interception. Additionally, Detroit clinched the game on linebacker Derrick Barnes' interception.
DUD: RB David Montgomery
While Gibbs had success on the ground, Montgomery was limited by Tampa Bay's tough interior defensive line. On 10 carries, Montgomery was limited to just 33 yards.
The veteran running back nearly reached the end zone in the third quarter, but was tackled at the 1-yard line. Craig Reynolds would ultimately be the one to reach the end zone and break the 10-10 tie at that point.
Montgomery contributed 14 yards on three receptions, including one to convert a key first down late in the fourth quarter.
STUD: C Frank Ragnow
Detroit's offensive line had its hands full with the physicality of Tampa Bay's front seven, but the unit did a good job of paving run lanes and keeping Jared Goff upright.
However, none showed more grit on Sunday than Ragnow. After getting rolled up on in the first half, Ragnow remained in the game, and battled through the injury.
The veteran has been listed on the injury report with multiple injuries throughout the season, but none have deterred him. He had a key block on Reynolds' touchdown run, and allowed just one pressure on 44 pass-blocking snaps.
STUD: TE Sam LaPorta
Another player battling injury, LaPorta rekindled his impeccable chemistry with Goff, after being limited in last week's victory against Los Angeles. The rookie tight end had nine catches for 65 yards, converting multiple key third downs to keep Detroit ahead of the sticks.
The Buccaneers struggled to contain the middle of the field, which freed up the passing connection between Goff and LaPorta and Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
While LaPorta had the team high in receptions, it was once again St. Brown who paced the team in receiving yards with 77 on eight catches.
