Jahmyr Gibbs turned a close game into a Detroit Lions runaway, slicing through Arizona for 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Detroit beat the Cardinals 45-21 on Sunday. The Lions arrived at 2-2 needing a sharp response after missing the playoffs last season. The Cardinals, 1-3 and building around young playmakers, showed early fight before Detroit’s fast offense took over.

Arizona struck first with a patient opening drive. Jacoby Brissett found Trey McBride for 11 yards, then hit Kendrick Bourne twice to move the Cardinals deep into Lions territory. Michael Wilson added a clever pass to Brissett near the goal line, and Brissett finished the march with a 2-yard touchdown throw to Teagan Quitoriano. Arizona led 7-0, and its new group of weapons had made an early statement.

Detroit’s first two drives ended with sacks and punts, but Gibbs changed the game in the second quarter. After Sam LaPorta caught a pass that brought Detroit close, Gibbs burst 16 yards to the Arizona 4. Two plays later, he powered in from the 1 to tie the score, 7-7.

The Lions then found their rhythm. Amon-Ra St. Brown returned a punt 31 yards, and although he lost the ball, Detroit recovered it. Goff made Arizona pay by hitting LaPorta for an 11-yard gain, then finding him again on a 38-yard touchdown. Detroit led 14-7.

Gibbs kept the pressure on with a 23-yard catch and an 18-yard run on the next Lions scoring march. Goff finished that drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams. Detroit added a field goal before halftime, then safety Abney intercepted Brissett’s deep throw in the final seconds. What had been a 7-7 game was suddenly 24-7 at the break.

Arizona opened the second half with Brissett’s 38-yard pass to Elijah Higgins, but its 53-yard field-goal try missed wide right. That missed chance mattered right away. Goff answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who raced past the defense for his second score. Detroit led 31-7.

Brissett did not quit. He guided a 72-yard drive with McBride catches and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Quitoriano, cutting the lead to 31-14. But Detroit answered once more. St. Brown grabbed a 36-yard pass, Gibbs sprinted 22 yards to the 2, and Goff sneaked in for a touchdown.

Gibbs finished Detroit’s powerful day with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Goff threw for 271 yards and three scores while spreading the ball to LaPorta, St. Brown, Williams and Gibbs. Detroit gained 412 yards and scored on all four of its red-zone trips, meaning drives inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

McBride caught nine passes for 66 yards and a late touchdown as Arizona kept battling, but the Cardinals could not slow Gibbs or Detroit’s balanced attack. The Lions improved to 3-2 and now face the Green Bay Packers with momentum. Arizona fell to 1-4 and heads to the Los Angeles Rams still searching for the steady play that can turn its promising young talent into wins.

Jahmyr Gibbs Sparks Lions’ 45-21 Charge in Arizona