The door is open for the Detroit Lions after the Green Bay Packers lost again and have to battle to maintain their playoff spot. However, the Lions need to win against the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep their playoff hopes alive.
A win would give them a fighting chance, and it’s time for the Lions to show the world what they are made of. Their offensive weapons have to show up with the season on the line, but Jahmyr Gibbs hasn’t been up for the task so far.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ Slow Start
Gibbs is not playing like the running back that the NFL world knows he is. It would be better for Detroit if he weren’t on the field. Gibbs has fumbled, dropped a pass, and has negative yards in the first half. Although he recovered his fumble, he still has just four carries for -4 yards.
Gibbs is one of the most dangerous backfield weapons in the NFL. This uncharacteristic start could not come at a worse time for Detroit. The Steelers aren’t a slouch on defense, but aren’t one of the league’s best either, and the star running back has to show up to help his team.
Gibbs is the 8th-ranked running back in PFSN’s RB Impact metric with an impact score of 83.7. He has the ability to take over games by himself. The Lions need Gibbs to have these performances for the rest of the season if they want to make the playoffs.
A win would put them just .5 games behind the Packers for the final Wild Card spot. Neither team has an easy schedule to finish out the year.
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The Lions will likely have to win out to make the playoffs. They have two divisional games to end the season against the Vikings, who have already beaten them, and the Bears, who are currently leading the division. However, Detroit can’t look too far ahead, as the Steelers are proving to be a difficult opponent for Detroit.
The Steelers won’t go away because they have to win to keep their divisional lead. Both teams will be desperate to win this week. The team whose offensive weapons step up the most will be the team that wins the game. Whether it’s Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, or Jameson Williams, the Lions need someone to take over.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.