HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 10: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions passes the ball in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The Texans made it their mission to neutralize the Lions' strong ground game, and for the most part they succeeded. Early on, Detroit's rushing attack was largely stifled as the Texans' defense constantly clogged lanes and disrupted the offensive line's normally dominant run blocking. It was an unusually quiet day for the Lions at the ground, particularly in the first half as they struggled to find their rhythm. However, this attack is too dynamic to be sustained for an entire game. In the second half, the Lions' ground game began to show flashes of life, and a few key runs helped shift the momentum. Those late-game drives proved crucial, setting up both of Jake Bates' game-winning field goals. While it wasn't the dominant, storming performance that fans are used to, the Lions found a way to adapt and deliver when it mattered most.
