Monday night shocker: Detroit Lions control trenches, time of possession in statement win vs. Ravens

BALTIMORE – The Detroit Lions put their rushing attack on full display as they upset the Baltimore Ravens 38-30 during their road matchup under the lights on Monday Night Football.

The game on Monday, September 22, 2025, showcased the Lions’ dominant offensive and defensive lines as they rushed for 225 yards and accumulated seven sacks, putting the football world on notice while improving to 2-1 on the young season.

Lamar Jackson vs NFC

Jackson was dominant when facing the National Football Conference in his career as a starting quarterback.

Prior to MNF, he was 24-2, with the only NFC teams to defeat him being the New York Giants in 2022 and the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles before Detroit got the win.

History

The MNF matchup was the eighth time the Lions and Ravens have faced each other, with Baltimore holding a 6-2 all-time lead.

Before the MNF game, the Lions’ lone victory came on October 9, 2005, inside Ford Field, as the Joey Harrington-led Lions defeated the Ravens, led by Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs, 35-17.

Before that, the Lions got boat-raced 38-6 on the road inside M&T Bank Stadium, but they suffered a real heartbreak when former kicker Justin Tucker set an NFL record 66-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar as time expired inside Ford Field in 2021, falling 19-17.

1st quarter

Detroit lost the coin toss, and the Ravens decided to defer until the second half, so Lions fans got to see Jared Goff hand the ball off to running back Jahmyr Gibbs to open the game for a two-yard run to set up second down and eight.

Goff connected with wide receiver Jameson Williams for a 24-yard catch and run, moving the sticks past midfield.

Gibbs lost three yards on a first-down run before gaining seven yards on second down to set up a third and six on the 40-yard line.

Goff connected with Williams for 19 yards to move the sticks to the Ravens’ 20-yard line.

The Lions ran their double-tailback play as David Montgomery entered the game to block for Gibbs’ two-yard carry before he caught a five-yard pass to set up third and three.

Goff threw his first incompletion in Gibbs’ direction, but Dan Campbell decided to go for it on fourth and three, connecting with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for seven yards to set up first and goal.

Gibbs gained three yards to move the ball to the one-yard line before he crossed the goal line for the game’s first touchdown.

St. Brown and Kalif Raymond made huge blocks to cap off the 11-play 67-yard drive, taking 5:44 off the play clock.

Trailing 7-0, the Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers, took the field as Mark Andrews gained 19 yards on a play-action pass.

Michigan Wolverines legend Aidan Hutchinson jumped across the line of scrimmage early, resulting in the game’s first penalty, which gave Baltimore a free five yards.

Henry plowed for seven yards on his first carry of the game.

Jackson ran a quarterback keeper for a 12-yard gain to move the Ravens past midfield on their opening possession.

Jackson connected with Andrews for an eight-yard catch and run, setting up second and two from the 35-yard line.

Derrick Barnes tackled Henry for one yard, setting up a 28-yard run up the left side by Henry to cap off a six-play, 80-yard touchdown, taking 3:36 off the clock.

On their second possession of the game, Goff threw a backward pass to Gibbs for a nine-yard loss.

Replay review showed it was forward, but not by much, so the call stood, setting up a second and long.

Gibbs rushed the ball for no yards, setting up a third and long for a Gibbs catch and run of eight yards.

Jack Fox punted the ball back to Baltimore for 54 yards, and it was returned for 11 yards by punt returner LaJohntay Wester.

Baltimore started their second possession at their 27-yard line before connecting with tight end Charlie Kolar for seven yards.

Henry gained no yards on second down, setting up a third and three, which fell incomplete to running back Justice Hill, setting up their first punt of the game.

Raymond, instead of letting the ball go into the endzone, as punter Jordan Stout bombed it 63 yards.

Detroit was called for holding as well, so the ball was backed up to their two-yard line for their third drive of the game.

With their feet in the endzone, Montgomery took the ball for a four-yard run to get his team out of their own endzone.

Montgomery got wrapped up in the backfield by John Jenkins for a loss of one, setting up third down and seven.

With the blitz on, Goff connected with tight end Sam LaPorta for 10 yards to end the first quarter.

2nd quarter

Goff opened the quarter 6/7 for 73 yards before connecting with Montgomery for a 13-yard catch-and-run, gaining a first down.

Goff showed the wheels, as to escaped the pass rush and used his feet to gain five yards.

Running their two-back set, Gibbs got pushed out of bounds for a loss of three.

On third and eight, Goff connected with LaPorta for a 14-yard gain to move the sticks.

Montgomery gained zero yards on the first down carry as he ran into the loaded front of Baltimore.

He followed that up with a nine-yard run to set up a third down and one before Gibbs extended the drive with a one-yard gain.

Gibbs gained nine yards on a catch and run to set up a second and one with 10:22 to play.

Running the double-back set, Goff, this time, handed the ball to Montgomery for an eight-yard gain.

He nearly housed it before getting shoetackled on the 30-yard line.

Montgomery gained 10 yards, moving the sticks to the Ravens’ 19-yard line.

Gibbs gained one yard on first down before picking his way up the gut for eight yards, setting up a third down and one on the Ravens’ 10-yard line.

Goff gained two yards on a quarterback sneak.

Gibbs caught the ball and got blasted on the one-yard line for seven yards, setting up a second-and-one touchdown for Montgomery to take a 14-7 lead.

That drive started on their own one-yard line before being capped off in 18 plays, 98 yards in 10:56, keeping Jackson and his high-powered offense on the sideline.

Bates saved a touchdown with a tackle to the Ravens 49 yard line after a 43 yard kickoff return.

Henry toted the rock for four yards on first down before Barnes strong tackled Jackson for a loss of one.

On third down and seven, Jackson extended the play for an 11-yard pass to Rashod Bateman for 11 yards.

Devontez Walker snagged a 34-yard grab on his first grab of the night before Henry gained two yards to move the ball to the one-yard line.

Henry gained no yards on second down, setting third and goal ahead of the two-minute warning.

Henry got stuffed by Zach Cunningham, setting up a fourth down and goal, that got stopped after an eight-yard sack and fumble caused by Jack Campbell to force a turnover on downs.

The Ravens got tricky and tricked themselves out of points instead of handing the ball off to Henry.

Goff threw incomplete on first down to Gibbs but drew a Marlon Humphrey illegal contact penalty with 1:18 to play before the half.

Goff tossed the ball out of bounds as he was being chased near the sideline.

With the blitz on, Goff threw an incomplete pass after Odafe Oweh was in his face for the near sack.

On third down and 10, Detroit did nothing with the ball, punting with Fox for 44 yards, which was returned to the Baltimore 41 before the Lions got called for a holding penalty, moving the sticks to the 31 with 56 seconds to play before the half.

Jackson scrambled right to the Lions’ 36-yard line for 13 yards.

After running around making the Lions look silly, Jackson connected with Hill for four yards with 38 seconds left.

Jackson connected with future Hall of Fame wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for 19 yards on 13 yards..

He drew a pass interference on Terrion Arnold, who has been getting picked on all night, in the direction of Hopkins

Baltimore went 49 yards in 32 seconds as the Lions squandered a golden opportunity, and the Ravens got the ball back to start the third quarter.

Goff connected with Raymond for a four-yard catch before calling their first timeout of the half with 13 seconds.

On second and six, Goff hit St. Brown for three yards before calling their second timeout with seven seconds to play.

Goff connected with St. Brown for 12 yards, calling their third time out, setting up Bates for a record-breaking 67-yard field goal with two seconds remaining, which was hooked wide left to end the half.

Jackson was 7-2 with 22 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns without an interception in Monday Night Football history, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell was 11-2 in primetime games since 2021, which was the best in the National Football League, so something had to give.

3rd quarter

The Ravens opened the half after only having the ball for 10:12 in the first half, connecting on a seven-yard drop-off pass to Henry to set up a second down and three.

Henry ran the ball for two yards to set up a third-and-one before drawing defensive tackle Roy Lopez offside, setting up a first down.

Defensive back Brian Branch dropped a wide-open interception before Andrews caught a four-yard pass to set up third and six.

Jackson connected with Flowers for six yards. It was his first catch of the game.

Henry plowed up the gut for four yards to the Lions’ 44-yard line before Jackson hit Kolar for a 15-yard catch, moving the ball into the red zone.

Andrews made a strong catch on Branch for 19 yards down to the Lions’ 10-yard line.

Detroit dropped another opportunity as cornerback D.J. Reed Jr. dropped an interception in the endzone before Al-Quadin Muhammad got his first sack of the game.

After missing those golden opportunities, Jackson connected with Andrews for a 14-yard touchdown, which was his fifth catch of the game.

The Lions gifted the Ravens three times through three quarters after squandering the Jackson sack fumble on fourth down, turning it into three incomplete passes before the Bateman touchdown.

Then Branch and Reed Jr. dropped catchable interceptions before Baltimore took their first lead of the game.

Detroit got another gift as kicker Tylor Loop kicked the ball short, placing the ball on the 40-yard line.

Goff opened the half with an incomplete pass to Williams, setting up a second down and 10.

Gibbs gained seven yards on second down, setting up a third and three where Goff connected with LaPorta on another third down, this time moving the sticks for seven yards.

The Lions stayed with the run as Gibbs gained nine yards as the ball was moved to the Ravens’ 37-yard line.

Gibbs gained two yards to gain the first down before Montgomery took the toss from Goff, who caught the pass and dimed up St. Brown for 17 yards.

St. Brown and Goff played pitch and catch as he scored on an 18-yard catch in the end zone to tie the game at 14, capping off a seven-play, 60-yard drive in 3:38.

Goff went 17-21 for 177 yards and one touchdown, while St. Brown had six receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown.

Bates did what Loop did and kicked the ball short, this time out of bounds, setting up the Ravens on the 40-yard line.

Jackson connected with Flowers for a seven-yard catch and run before Muhammad got his second sack of the game for a seven-yard loss.

On third down and 10, Jackson went three-and-out after he threw incomplete to Bates before Jordan Stout punted the ball 56 yards, which took a favorable bounce to the Lions’ four-yard line.

Montgomery toted the rock for 11 yards before Goff threw incomplete to St. Brown to set up second down and 10 with 2:57 to go.

The Lions’ offensive line opened a massive hole for Montgomery, who ran the ball for a 72-yard gain.

Gibbs gained five yards on first down to the eight-yard line before LaPorta caught a two-yard pass to set up third down and four.

Campbell called the team’s first timeout of the game with 36 seconds to play.

On third down and three from the Baltimore six-yard line, Gibbs rushed up the middle for a one-yard gain, setting up a fourth and one.

Montgomery rushed nine times for 114 yards and one touchdown through three quarters.

4th quarter

With the momentum and grit on their side, Detroit got tricky again as Goff pitched the ball to St. Brown, who tossed it to Gibbs for a four-yard touchdown.

Offensive coordinator John Morton was calling a good game as Detroit capped off a seven-play, 96-yard touchdown drive in 3:41, taking a 28-21 lead.

Jackson, trailing by seven, gained four yards before getting tackled by Alex Anzalone, setting up a second down and seven.

The former Most Valuable Player threw an incompletion in the direction of Flowers before connecting with Bateman for 19 yards.

Henry got back into the game for a three-yard gain before getting Henry got back into the game for a three-yard gain before getting a gift from Branch for chop blocking, moving the ball to the 32-yard line.

Kolar received a false start call, forcing the ball to be moved back five yards.

On first and 15, Jackson threw to Hopkins, but it was well short.

Jackson connected with Bateman for 16 yards to move the sticks. He was wide open as he sat down in the hole to make the grab.

Jackson was tackled for a one-yard gain by D.J. Reader on first down before Trevor Nowaske got his first sack of the game, followed by a Barnes game-saving sack.

There was nothing but green grass in front of Jackson, but they settled for a shaky field goal make by Loop.

Leading 28-24, the Lions had another golden opportunity awaiting them as another long touchdown would all but have sealed the game.

With the ball on their 35-yard line, Gibbs rushed the ball up the gut for a five-yard gain.

On second down and five, Detroit called a pass play to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa, who had a pass tipped away from him.

Detroit called its second timeout of the half as the play clock expired before Goff chucked a ball in the dirt in the direction of Raymond, setting up for a punt.

On their next possession, Hutchinson punched the ball out of Henry’s grasp for his third fumble of the season.

Montgomery rushed the ball for three yards, setting up a second-down play that drew a 15-yard facemask by a lineman, pushing the ball back to second down and 22.

Gibbs rushed the ball for one yard on second down before throwing an incompletion to TeSlaa.

Bates knocked in a 45-yard field goal with 6:35 to go. Montgomery gained a first down in the goal line area of Baltimore, but the penalty pushed them back, setting up a field goal attempt.

Needing a touchdown, Jackson got sacked by Hutchinson for a loss of six yards.

The sack was Detroit’s sixth of the game as the clock went under six minutes.

Jackson hit Hill for a four-yard catch and run, setting up a third down and 12.

With the game on the line, Muhammad tackled Jackson, who started to scramble for a three-yard gain, setting up a punt that landed out of bounds at the 38-yard line with 4:24 to play.

Kelvin Sheppard had the Lions defense on a mission.

Gibbs ran the ball to the 37-yard line for seven yards before going out of bounds.

He gained a first down on the next play with a four-yard rush.

Gibbs gained two yards on first down, setting up a second down and eight as the clock ticked under three minutes.

Montgomery ran the ball for three yards, moving the ball to the 46-yard line.

On third down and five, Goff connected with Gibbs on a three-yard catch and run as the clock stopped at 1:56 for the two-minute warning.

With the game on the line, needing two yards, Detroit on their own 49 yard line, connecting with St. Brown for a 20-yard gain.

Detroit was 3-3 on fourth down before Montgomery ran for 31 yards to the house for his second touchdown of the game.

The Lions’ rushing attack was on full display as they accumulated 225 yards on the ground.

Anzalone and Muhammad get a half sack, totaling seven for the game.

Jackson connected with Andrews for a 27-yard touchdown catch and run before throwing incomplete to Flowers on the two-point conversion.

Baltimore attempted an onside kick, but LaPorta recovered the ball for the victory.