A former Alabama player has an NFC North team inching closer to its first division title since 1993.
The Detroit Lions last won a division crown in the National Football League when the NFC North was the NFC Central.
It has been 30 years since the Lions won a divisional crown and six years since it made the playoffs. Jahmyr Gibbs, a rookie running back picked at No. 12 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, has the Lions in a position to accomplish both things. He assisted Detroit to its tenth victory of the season on Sunday at home versus the Denver Broncos. Gibbs posted 100 yards rushing on 11 carries and two total touchdowns — including a touchdown catch from Jared Goff. He averaged 9.1 yards per rushing attempt and collected two receptions. Gibbs has two 100+ yard rushing performances and four games with 100+ yards from scrimmage.
2 Fast 2 Furious: 2 Rookies 2 Touchdowns#DENvsDET on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/9xMbpGwF3a
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 17, 2023
3⃣ 4⃣ on the ground for @jahmyr_gibbs1!#DENvsDET |📺 NFL Network | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/82pLzGoNb0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 17, 2023
.@Lions RB @Jahmyr_Gibbs1 is the 7th rookie to produce 1,000+ scrimmage yards in franchise history.#OnePride#ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/IPruaIYlBy
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 17, 2023
The Lions gained a 42-17 victory over the Broncos, earning its fifth win at Ford Field this season.
Goff told reporters after the game that Gibbs is “one of the best rookies he has ever been around.” His performance set several rookie records for the Lions, including scrimmage yards in franchise history. Gibbs is the seventh rookie in Detroit’s history to amass 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a season. He has 792 rushing yards, 296 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns.
Gibbs has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy football owners and Detroit fans. He brings a toughness and explosiveness this offense needs to compete with anyone in the league. Gibbs has the Lions believing it can make a run in the playoffs.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
