GLENDALE — The Detroit Lions erased an early 7-0 deficit in Glendale with a decisive 31-0 run, including 24 points in the second quarter, and seven straight scoring drives to secure a get-right victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Detroit trailed after three straight three-and-outs with a sack allowed on each possession, then answered with complementary football to drop a forty-burger on the road and head into the bye before divisional play.
Sam LaPorta was the catalyst. Jared Goff called him the catalyst for everything and illuminated how his key plays changed the landscape of the game. The tight end, a key offensive cornerstone in a contract year, revved Detroit's engine with a vital fourth-and-3 catch over the middle against Mack Wilson Sr. on the Lions' fourth possession to move the chains for the first time, then made rookie Wydett Williams Jr. miss on third-and-long to set up fourth-and-inches before breaking wide open for a 38-yard touchdown to give Detroit the lead for good. He added a twisting, diving grab down the seam in the fourth quarter and finished with five catches on five targets for a season-high 88 receiving yards, half after the catch, plus key run blocks on the edge.
Penei Sewell delivered another elite performance on the offensive line. The Lions' prize tackle did not allow a single pressure on 34 dropbacks, the second time in three games he has posted a clean sheet, while neutralizing Josh Sweat and washing Zaven Collins and Jordan Burch in pass protection. Sewell also drove defenders back on double teams with Christian Mahogany, sealed the edge and climbed to linebackers to create running room for Jahmyr Gibbs to the left side while blocking through the whistle.
The secondary, the most criticized position group through the first month, responded with its best outing. DJ Reed, the 2025 high-priced free agent who had struggled in man and zone coverage, delivered possibly his best game as a Lion with strong run support including three tackles for loss on Jeremiyah Love. In coverage he locked down Michael Wilson with safety help, allowing four completions for 30 yards, two first downs, just three yards after the catch and a 67.6 passer rating on seven targets. Opposite him, Roger McCreary made his third start in an Amik Robertson-esque role as the second outside cornerback who shifts into the slot in nickel and posted a career-high six pass deflections despite being targeted 18 times, allowing seven first downs while shutting out Jalen Brooks on five targets.
Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs closed the surge as one of the league's best backfield duos. Goff aggressively pushed the ball downfield, completing six passes of 10-plus air yards for 152 yards at 25.3 yards per completion with three touchdowns while spreading the ball and delivering YAC-friendly passes in the screen game. Gibbs recorded just the third 200-plus-yard game from scrimmage of his career, powering the offense that Dan Campbell had challenged to play complementary football all week.