The Detroit Lions would once again prove to be the Cardiac Cats, as they won 31-24 over the New York Jets. This game would be the first meeting since former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn left the team to join the Jets two seasons ago.
Vaki finished with only 37 yards from scrimmage, but his work in pass protection and short-yardage situations showed why Detroit may already have the complement Jahmyr Gibbs needs.
From goal-line holds to drive-extending defensive flags, Detroit’s most damaging penalties have repeatedly shown up where every yard matters most. The Detroit Lions are 2-1 through three weeks, and on paper, that’s a solid start.
Here are the snap counts from the Detroit Lions Week 3 home game against the New York Jets. Running back Sione Vaki, who has battled numerous injuries in his career, saw 31 percent of offensive snaps against the AFC East squad.
Detroit pressured Geno Smith 24 times, sacked him five times and held New York to 58 rushing yards, but two costly flags completely changed how the afternoon looked.
A few trades have rearranged the NFL's backup quarterback ranks, but the dust has mostly settled. From a mix of recent first-round disappointments, aging vets, and young project types, here is how the league's QB2 ranks look for the 2026 season.
Detroit has already watched two comfortable leads disappear in three weeks, forcing the Lions to close out games a second time after they should have been over.
Here is everything Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff said, following a 31-24 Week 3 victory at Ford Field. Where the Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs’s first touchdown with the cutback sits in his memory of all touchdowns Gibbs has scored: “Well, yeah, he wouldn't have got in if I didn't get the block for him, right?
The Lions’ defense entered 2026 with plenty of questions, and injuries have only made things harder. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, Detroit’s starting safeties, have both missed time, leaving the secondary without two major pieces.
The Lions have endured plenty of questions during their uneven start to 2026. Detroit lost to Buffalo in Week 2, while injuries and defensive struggles created even more concern.
NFL stars can't play forever, and retirement is coming sooner than later for some of the league's top players. These 25 players could call it quits following the 2026 season.
The Detroit Lions once again have one of the best offenses in the league, but it takes more than that to compete for a Super Bowl. After three weeks, Detroit’s defense has emerged as a legitimate weakness, one that will hold the Lions back from being a championship contender.
Here is a transcript of Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell's postgame press conference after his team defeated the New York Jets, 31-24, to move to 2-1 on the season.
The Detroit Lions did enough in clutch moments to earn a much-needed win. After a long break following their Week 2 loss, the Lions overcame some adversity to emerge victorious over old friend Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets.
The Detroit Lions moved to 2-1 in the 2026 NFL season on Sunday, toppling the New York Jets 31-24 at home after suffering their first defeat of the year to the Buffalo Bills last week.
Jahmyr Gibbs dominated, several young Lions made the most of new opportunities, and Detroit’s secondary finally showed signs of settling down in a 31-24 win.
The Detroit Lions bounced back in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season, defeating the New York Jets 31-24 at home to move to 2-1. Head coach Dan Campbell’s squad suffered a 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills last week, but got the job done this time against another AFC East opponent.
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions returned to action after a long week. They faced another AFC East foe with a familiar name leading the franchise, Aaron Glenn’s New York Jets.
Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns and totaled 164 yards and the Lions made a stop to end a shootout in the final minute to defeat the New York Jets 31-24 on Sunday in Detroit.
Detroit moved to 2-1 after a wild fourth quarter at Ford Field, with Jahmyr Gibbs taking over, Isaac TeSlaa finally flashing and Chuck Clark delivering the play that ended it.
The Detroit Lions’ defense is off to a rough start to the 2026 NFL season, especially the secondary. Entering the year, the back end was a major concern for the Lions, and through two games, it hasn’t been pretty.
As the Lions await the eventual return of starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, they continue to see attrition in the secondary. Ahead of Detroit’s Week 3 matchup with the Jets, the team placed safety Thomas Harper on injured reserve.
The Detroit Lions announced a series of roster moves for Week 3’s game against the Jets this Sunday. The full list includes: Lions placed S Thomas Harper on injured reserve.
Detroit escaped with a 31-30 overtime win over the 1-1 New Orleans Saints at home in Week 1 and lost to the 2-0 Buffalo Bills, 41-31, on the road in Week 2.
The Lions fell to the Bills 41-31 on "Thursday Night Football," and there were some glaring problems on the field. Here's what they need to do to fix it.