Jahmyr Gibbs downplayed any concern after an awkward slide in Week 7, but the Lions running back also made clear that Detroit knows it left room for improvement in its field-goal win over the Packers.
The Lions needed a kick as time expired to beat the Packers, and Gibbs’ postgame comments pointed to a team that is winning while still trying to sharpen its execution. That is usually a positive sign this early in the season, but it also leaves a clear message: the standard inside the locker room is higher than the result alone suggested.
Gibbs: Detroit has been good, but not clean enough
Gibbs said the Lions have been “really good,” but added that they started better in previous games and that was the main difference. He pointed to two turnovers — and said it could have been three — as the sort of detail that can turn a comfortable win into a much tighter one than it should have been.
“Usually, we don’t do that,” Gibbs said. “So that part we need to clean up.” He also admitted, “We left a lot out there.”
That is the heart of the Lions’ message after Week 7. They found a way to win, but Gibbs was blunt that the score should not have been as close as it was.
Control of the ball remains the identity
Gibbs also explained the way Detroit wants to play. “We want to control the ball,” he said. “We want to be aggressive. We want to dictate the game.”
He added that the Lions’ philosophy is to “finish with the ball,” and that they do not want to keep handing possession back. That fits the broader shape of the win over the Packers, where Detroit had to rely on composure late rather than simply overwhelming the opposition from start to finish.
For the Lions, that is both encouraging and a warning. They are still producing winning football, but Gibbs’ view is that the margin for error can be much smaller than it was in Week 7.
Why the scare matters
The awkward slide and the concern around Gibbs were part of a game that already had the feel of a divisional test. When a key offensive player is involved in a moment like that, the reaction matters almost as much as the play itself.
In this case, Gibbs’ comments were calm and practical. He did not overstate the issue, and he did not hide the fact that the Lions were not at their best. Instead, he framed it the way a contender usually should: keep the win, clean up the errors, and move on.
That is especially important in a season where momentum can shift quickly. The Lions may have beaten the Packers, but Gibbs’ assessment suggests the focus is now on making sure the next close game looks less complicated.
