Wow! Just Wow! Detroit Lions Game ‘Was Like Two Heavyweights Trading Blows’
Back in 2023, the Detroit Lions last faced the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium and walked away embarrassed after a crushing 38-6 loss.
This time, under the Monday night spotlight, fans wanted payback but worried history might repeat itself. Instead, Detroit flipped the script, taking down Baltimore 38-30 in a victory that was nothing short of remarkable.
For fans, the only reaction all night was “wow.” The offensive front dominated. The defense delivered. Running backs, led by David Montgomery, excelled. Receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta shined. Jared Goff was sharp. Coaching was on point.
Even kicker Jake Bates had a heroic moment, dragging down returner Rasheen Ali, who otherwise seemed destined for a touchdown.
“We executed as a team. Everything we emphasized came through,” Coach Dan Campbell said afterward. “We managed Lamar, and that was massive. Just a huge win.”
Here’s how the sports world summed it up:
Detroit prevailed thanks to bold offensive design, grit on defense, better line play, and a masterful defensive scheme.
Yet maybe the best sign? Watching the Lions blast runs right through the Ravens’ interior. This rebuilt offensive line looks stronger than ever.
It truly resembled a battle of heavyweights. Nothing else fits. A thrilling game for football purists, and even sweeter for Detroit fans. The Lions didn’t back down from Jackson, Henry, and the Ravens. They turned the pain of that 38-6 loss into fuel.
They protected the ball. They forced stops. They finished drives. They sacked Jackson seven times. They gambled on fourth down and kept converting. One such gamble ended in Montgomery’s 31-yard scoring run that sealed it. Every detail mattered, and Detroit nailed them.
As night fell in Baltimore, the Ravens (1-2) were left searching for answers on both sides of the ball. The Lions piled up 224 rushing yards and downed Lamar Jackson seven times in a 38-30 win broadcast nationwide on ESPN.
Frustration hit Derrick Henry, who coughed up the ball for the third straight game while totaling only 50 yards on 12 carries, though he managed one score. Detroit kept possession seven extra minutes, hammering the ground game 38 times with Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Baltimore’s defense faltered badly. But the offense offered no relief. Their few scoring drives came fast, shoving the defense back onto the field. Too often, it was turnovers or three-and-outs, giving defenders no rest. Missing Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy didn’t help, but the struggles went deeper. Normally, the offense balances things, but both units looked out of sync.
Detroit’s staff recalled being manhandled here two years ago, and on Monday their toughness reflected Campbell’s identity. The Ravens, conversely, looked nothing like a Harbaugh team. They were shoved around up front and folded in big moments.
Baltimore seldom suffers defeats this lopsided, a worrying sign before a critical Week 4 trip to Arrowhead. If Madubuike and Van Noy remain sidelined, this game could foreshadow a rocky defensive season
The Lions (2-1) hammered Jackson with seven sacks and outrushed Baltimore 224 to 85. They scored on marathon 98- and 96-yard drives against a short-handed Ravens front that couldn’t match Detroit’s physicality.
Ahead 31-24 late, Detroit converted a fourth-and-2 from its own 49 with a Goff-to-St. Brown strike for 21 yards. Moments later, Montgomery dashed 31 yards for a touchdown, capping his 151-yard outing.
Before Monday, the Lions had never beaten the Ravens in Baltimore or finished within nine points. That drought ended as Goff led a fast start and playmakers turned the spotlight into a showcase.
Montgomery and Gibbs joined Amon-Ra St. Brown in finding the end zone, marking the 10th game where all three tallied at least one TD from scrimmage — the most ever for a teammate trio in league history, per ESPN Research.
Detroit stormed into Baltimore for Week 3, shined under Monday night lights, and controlled the Ravens. “Dominated” barely describes how they contained Lamar Jackson and his offense.
Seven sacks, numerous pass breakups, and near interceptions sent the Lions home from M&T Bank Stadium with a 2-1 record.
Their belief in themselves keeps growing. And on a night like this, that belief meant everything.
Because in Baltimore, darkness usually prevails. On “Monday Night Football,” the Ravens rarely fall. And in the final quarter, games are most often decided.
But Campbell refused to let this one slip away. He handed Detroit the chance to close it out — and with the pressure at its peak, the Lions seized it.
