Jahmyr Gibbs' 3rd touchdown with 2:25 left lifts Lions to 31-24 win over Jets

DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs took a toss sweep to the right, reversed field and raced to the left side of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown.

He was just getting warmed up.

Gibbs ran for another touchdown in the second half and had a go-ahead 11-yard reception with 2:25 left for his third score of the game and the Detroit Lions held on to beat the New York Jets 31-24 on Sunday.

“Gibbs hit another gear once we got him going in the second half,” coach Dan Campbell said.

The Lions (2-1) leaned on their dynamic running back a lot — on the ground and through the air — and he delivered another fantastic performance.

Gibbs said he was inspired by Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders being in the house.

“Anytime he’s here, I’ve got to step up my game,” he said.

Gibbs had 20 carries for 99 yards with two touchdown runs in the second half, along with seven receptions for 65 yards and score. The fourth-year pro is the first player in NFL history with at least 300 yards, four rushing touchdowns, 150 yards receiving and two touchdown receptions through three games.

“He’s so explosive and nifty with the ball in his hands,” Jared Goff said.

The Jets (1-2) overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter with Geno Smith's 4-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ruckert, a 23-yard TD throw to Garrett Wilson and a 2-point conversion pass to Sterling Shepard to make it 24-all.

New York's defense — led by head coach Aaron Glenn, Detroit's former defensive coordinator — then had two blown coverages as Goff and Gibbs marched the Lions down the field to quickly regain the lead.

With a chance to tie or perhaps go for the win, the Jets were on the Detroit 28 when Smith lost a fumble after blitzing safety Chuck Clark sacked him to seal it.

New York came up short again, one week after losing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against Green Bay and losing 20-17 in overtime.

“We’re fighting to close that gap and we will,” Glenn said. "We’ll be on the other side of these games. I truly believe that”

Smith finished 31 of 37 for 321 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wilson had 10 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, but was on the sideline on the final offensive play after getting banged up and evaluated for a head injury.

“We have a lot of real good players,” Smith said. “We’ve just got to finish games.”

Goff was 25 of 32 for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers.

The Lions got off to a slow start against Glenn, who was Dan Campbell's defensive coordinator from 2021 through 2024, before closing strong to score 31 points for the third straight week.

Detroit put the ball in Gibbs' hands to set up Jake Bates' 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

New York's offense suddenly started moving the ball on the ensuing possession as Smith completed passes on four straight snaps for 72 yards. Rookie Kenyon Sadiq fully extended on a 24-yard touchdown catch in tight coverage put the Jets up 7-3. Sadiq had seven receptions for 105 yards and the score, a boost for a short-handed receiving corps.

Detroit converted a fourth-and-2 from the New York 9 with a pass to Isaac TeSlaa to set up Goff's 4-yard toss to Amon-Ra St. Brown's back shoulder for a 10-7 lead late in the first half.

It extended Goff's streak with a touchdown pass to 26 games and was St. Brown's fifth catch for a score in 10 quarters this season.

On Gibbs' first of three touchdowns, Goff ran interference on the path to the end zone.

“He wouldn’t have gotten in if I didn't block for him,” the quarterback joked.

Jets: RB Breece Hall (thigh) and LG Dylan Parham (knee) were injured during the game. WR Adonai Mitchell (finger) was inactive while TE Mason Taylor (thumb), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) and LB Kiko Mauigoa (quadriceps) were previously ruled out.

Lions: RT Blake Miller and LG Christian Mahogany played after missing last week’s game with injuries.

Jets: At Chicago next Sunday.

Lions: At Carolina next Sunday night.

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Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs reacts to his touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs tries to get past New York Jets' Jamien Sherwood during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ray Del Rio)

Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs runs for a touchdown past New York Jets' Brandon Stephens during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New York Jets' Garrett Wilson catches a pass in front of Detroit Lions' Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ray Del Rio)

New York Jets' Kenyon Sadiq tries to catch a pass in front of Detroit Lions' Chuck Clark during the first half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ray Del Rio)

Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ray Del Rio)

New York Jets' Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ray Del Rio)

Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs celebrates his touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — De'Von Achane is hurt, and the Miami Dolphins are bracing for bad news.

Achane — the Dolphins' most important offensive player — suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Miami's 24-10 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. The Dolphins were unsure on the severity after the game, though coach Jeff Hafley sounded grim based on preliminary testing.

“Still gathering information and hopefully I’ll have more for you tomorrow,” Hafley said after the game. “To be very honest with you, it does not sound optimistic at this moment. But I can’t give you any other details until I have them.”

Hafley wouldn't speculate on what Achane missing any time might mean going forward.

Achane — who agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension earlier this year with $32 million guaranteed — is generally considered to be a huge part of the Dolphins’ plans in their current rebuilding phase. He’s seventh on the team’s all-time rushing list despite playing only 47 games and led the NFL with an average of 5.7 yards per carry last season.

Achane was either the ballcarrier or intended receiver on four of Miami’s first five plays Sunday before getting hurt. He suffered the injury on what was an 11-yard run to the left side.

Achane got up quickly after the tackle on the play where he got injured, then simply stood still while flanked by a couple of teammates. He eventually walked to the Miami sideline under his own power, albeit slowly and appearing to favor his left leg before going into the team’s injury tent.

He was further checked in the locker room, then was ruled out. Achane returned to the sideline in the second half, standing with teammates.

Ollie Gordon replaced Achane and had a career-high 14 carries by the midpoint of the third quarter, before he also had to leave the game because of what the Dolphins said was a cramping issue. Gordon was the only other running back the Dolphins had on their active roster Sunday.

Wide receiver Malik Washington had a carry in the fourth quarter before Gordon returned to the game.

“You've just always got to have that next-man-up mentality and be ready to go,” Gordon said.

Achane rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards on 238 carries in 2025. He had eight rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores a year ago and ranked fourth among running backs with 488 yards receiving.

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Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)