The Detroit Lions didn’t play their best game of the season, but it was certainly their most entertaining game.
The Lions (7-4, third in NFC North) beat the New York Giants (2-10, fourth in NFC East) 34-27 in overtime on Sunday, Nov. 23 at Ford Field in Detroit. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs gave the Lions a 34-27 lead in overtime following a 69-yard rushing touchdown, and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson finished the game with a walk-off sack to secure the win.
The game was tied at 27-27 in the fourth quarter following a crazy trick play touchdown reception from quarterback Jameis Winston and a 49-yard rushing touchdown from Gibbs. Lions kicker Jake Bates hit a 59-yard field goal with less than 30 seconds left to tie the game.
Though the game was not mathematically a must-win for the Lions, they need to bank a win against a sub-.500 opponent after their 16-9 Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles knocked them out of the top seven in the NFC playoffs.
The Lions played without starting tight end Sam LaPorta, however, as recent back surgery has likely knocked him out for the season. They also missed three defensive starters for this game (Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold and Marcus Davenport), but help came in the return of starting cornerback D.J. Reed.
Here’s how this barn-burner went down.
Aidan Hutchinson with the walk-off sack, Lions win
FINAL: Lions 34, Giants 27
The Lions defense initially held strong on New York’s overtime possession, forcing a 4th-and-10 from New York’s 30-yard line. An 11-yard scramble by Winston, however, kept the drive alive, and Winston followed that with a 14-yard completion to Theo Johnson.
A few short gains brought the Giants to the Lions’ 27-yard line for a 4th-and-5, which the Lions stuffed on a sack by Aidan Hutchinson. Lions win.
Jahmyr Gibbs opens overtime with a 69-yard TD
OT, 9:42: Lions 34, Giants 27
Player of the game? At this rate, it has to be Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
The speedster took the handoff on the first play of the overtime period and ran in 69 yards for a touchdown.
The Giants will have a chance to respond and must score a touchdown for the game to continue. Any other result will give the Lions a win.
NFL overtime rules
There will be one 10-minute overtime period, with each team getting at least one possession in the period.
Should the Lions score a touchdown in their possession, the Giants will need to score a touchdown of their own to keep the game going. If the score is still tied after the 10 minute period, the game will end in a tie.
Giants win toss, choose to kick in OT period
The Lions will receive the ball to start the overtime period.
Lions going to overtime vs Giants
End 4Q: Lions 27, Giants 27
With the Giants starting from their own 32-yard line, Lions defensive back Amik Robertson knocked down a pass from Winston on the first play of the drive that could have led to a big gain.
Two plays later, Winston took the knee. We’re headed to overtime.
Jake Bates ties game on 59-yard field goal
4Q, 0:28: Lions 27, Giants 27
That could have been a disaster, but Lions kicker Jake Bates ties it up.
Consecutive completions from quarterback Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown brought the Lions to their own 47-yard line with 1:12 left in the game before Goff spiked the ball to stop the clock. Some apparent miscommunication forced the Lions to call their final timeout of the half, however.
Goff then completed a 12-yard pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, which was followed by a 5-yard delay of game penalty by the Giants, brining the Lions to the New York 36-yard line with 58 seconds left.
Two plays later, the Lions suffered a five-yard loss on a pass in the flat to Gibbs, and an incomplete pass led to 4th down.
Bates hit the 59-yard field goal, however, tying the game.
Lions driving needing at least three points
A holding call on Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker brought the Lions to a 2nd and 11 from their own 5-yard line, which they gained back on a completion to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Two plays later, a 9-yard completion to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown brought the Lions to their own 27-yard line as the two-minute warning hit.
Giants turnover on downs, Lions take over
On 3rd-and-11 from their own 7-yard line, Winston found receiver Isaiah Hodgins for a 31-yard completion, moving the Giants closer to midfield. Two plays later, Lions edge rusher almost got his first sack of the game, forcing an errant pass from Winston leading to a 3rd-and-6.
A pass interference call on Lions safety Brian Branch on the 3rd-down play then brought the Giants to the 50-yard line with a new set of downs. A holding penalty brought them back to their own territory, however, creating a 2nd-and-17 from the New York 43-yard line.
On third down, Winston avoided a sack and found tight end Theo Johnson for a 39-yard completion, bringing the Giants to the Lions’ 18-yard line on another 3rd-and-long conversion.
The Lions defense forced the Giants to a 4th-and-goal from the 6-yard line, which led to an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
The Lions will take over down by three with 2:54 left on their own 6-yard line. This could be the drive of the season for Detroit.
Lions go three-and-out, punt
On a 3rd-and-9, Lions receiver Jameson Williams dropped a sure first-down catch, forcing a punt from the Lions.
The Giants will start with the ball on their own 8-yard line.
Thomas Harper intercepts pass
Lions safety Thomas Harper intercepted Winston on the first play of the drive. It’s Harper’s second career interception and first with the Lions.
Detroit starts on the New York 45-yard line.
Jahmyr Gibbs scores another TD, brings Lions back into game
4Q, 10:50: Giants 27, Lions 24
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs refuses to let the Lions get down.
Bouncing to the right side on a handoff up the middle, Gibbs scored on a 49-yard rushing touchdown to once again make it a 3-point game.
Kalif Raymond questionable to return
The Lions have announced that receiver Kalif Raymond is questionable to return after leaving the game with an ankle injury late in the third quarter.
Jameis Winston scores on trick-play 33-yard receiving TD
4Q, 12:16: Giants 27, Lions 17
A second trick play from the Giants? You bet.
Giants quarterback Jameis Winston initially handed the ball to receiver Gunner Olszewski on the end-around. Olszewski was initially pressured and couldn’t get the pass off, but stepped into the pocket and let it fly to Winston, who was single-covered on the left side.
Winston came up with the catch near the 20-yard line and battled linebacker Derrick Barnes to get into the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown. Giants are up by two scores once again.
Giants are driving as 3rd quarter ends
End 3Q: Giants 20, Lions 17
On 3rd-and-3 from their own 22-yard line, Winston found running back Tyrone Tracy wide open in the flat for a 20-yard gain. One more 7-yard completion to Wan’Dale Robinson brought the Giants to their own 49-yard line before the end of the quarter.
Neither team scored in the third, but the Giants are driving.
Jared Goff throws red zone interception
Lions quarterback Jared Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 30-yard gain on the first play of the drive to bring the Lions to their own 40-yard line. Consecutive 3-yard rushes from running back David Montgomery made it 3rd-and-4, while Goff found St. Brown again for a 20-yard completion and a first down on the Giants’ 34-yard line.
A pitch to Montgomery on 3rd-and-4 from the 28-yard line gained nine yards, but most of those yards were lost on the next play on a Giants sack of Goff, their third of the game. A second-down pass to receiver Kalif Raymond got most of those yards back, creating a 3rd-and-11, though Raymond exited the field appearing to have hurt his left leg on the play.
Goff threw an interception on the next play, with the intended pass for St. Brown bouncing off the receivers hands and into the arms of Giants safety Jevon Holland.
New York takes over on their own 15-yard line.
Lions defense forces punt
A 24-yard gain from Winston to tight end Theo Johnson brought the Giants to a 1st-and-10 on their own 42-yard line. Two plays later, Winston found Wan’Dale Robinson for an 11-yard gain to get into Lions’ territory on the 47-yard line.
Three plays later, a deflected Winston pass from defensive lineman Roy Lopez brought the Giants to a fourth down. Following the punt, the Lions will start at their own 10-yard line.
Lions punt on first drive of second half
A 19-yard completion from quarterback Jared Goff to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on the third play of the drive brought the Lions to the Giants’ 45-yard line. Two plays later, a big gain on a completion from Goff to wide receiver Jameson Williams was negated following a penalty for ineligible man downfield, leading to a 3rd-and-16.
After an 8-yard gain on 3rd down, the Lions elected to punt. The Giants will start with the ball on their own 8-yard line following the 36-yard punt from Jack Fox.
Grizzly wins Corgi Cup
In potentially the most important update of the game, Grizzly has won the third annual Corgi Cup at Ford Field in a photo finish over Tito. Grizzly wins a $500 Pet Supplies Plus gift card as a result.
Helen, who won the first two cups, was eliminated in the first heat.
Jared Goff halftime stats
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has taken two sacks, but otherwise has had a solid game with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Here’s how some key Lions have fared.
Kalif Raymond helps Lions score before halftime
HALFTIME: Giants 20, Lions 17
A 44-yard kick return from Kalif Raymond gave the Lions a 1st-and-10 from their own 43-yard line with 31 seconds left in the half. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was unable to get out of bounds on a four-yard completion, however, forcing Detroit to use its second time out.
A 29-yard gain on a pass from quarterback Jared Goff to Raymond brought the Lions to the New York 23-yard line with seven seconds left. A four-yard gain on a completion to Gibbs then allowed kicker Jack Fox to attempt at 37-yard field goal, which he completed as time expired on the half.
Giants take 6-point lead after field goal
2Q, 0:38: Giants 20, Lions 14
A pass interference call on Lions defensive back Rock Ya-Sin on the first play of the drive put the Giants on their own 45-yard line, though the call looked questionable upon review. Winston then found receiver Wan’Dale Robinson for a 22-yard completion to bring the Giants to the Lions’ 29-yard line.
But the Lions defense held, forcing a 44-yard field goal attempt from Giants kicker Younghoe Koo (which he hit). It’s still a one-score game.
Jahmyr Gibbs scores TD one play after big run
2Q, 2:16: Giants 17, Lions 14
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had his first big play of the game.
With the Lions at 2nd-and-1 on their own 48-yard line, Gibbs found a hole up the middle, veered to the right and sped away, gaining 49 yards down to the 3-yard line. On the next play, Lions quarterback Jared Goff found Gibbs on a three-yard touchdown reception in the flat, which Gibbs scored on an athletic reach towards the pylon.
Importantly, it’s Gibbs’ 42nd career touchdown, which pulls him to within one touchdown from tying Emmitt Smith and Randy Moss for the second-most touchdowns before the age of 24.
First on that list? Lions legend Barry Sanders (47), of course.
Giants go three-and-out
After allowing the touchdown, the Lions defense had a huge stop, forcing a three-and-out on New York’s offense deep in their own territory.
The Lions will start on their own 39-yard line with four minutes left in the half following the punt.
Lions punt for third time
The Lions offense got a first down on consecutive runs of five and six yards from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, but were forced to punt three plays later following a sack on quarterback Jared Goff from Giants defensive lineman Darius Alexander, his second of the game.
The Giants will start with the ball on their own 16-yard line following a holding penalty on the punt return.
Jameis Winston throws second touchdown pass, Giants extend lead
2Q, 8:21: Giants 17, Lions 7
Detroit’s secondary is struggling so far.
Blown coverage downfield after the Lions defense brought a blitz allowed Winston to find running back Tyrone Tracy wide open for a 42-yard gain on the first play of the drive. Two plays later, running back Devin Singletary found a hole up the middle for a 13-yard gain on the Giants’ biggest rushing play of the day so far, bringing New York to the Lions’ 15-yard line.
Three plays later, Winston found receiver Isaiah Hodgins for a 12-yard touchdown. The Giants once again take a two-score lead.
Amon-Ra St. Brown scores on 11-yard touchdown pass
2Q, 11:41: Giants 10, Lions 7
Lions quarterback Jared Goff started the possession with a 20-yard gain to tight end Brock Wright, which put the Lions at the Giants’ 45-yard line, and followed it with a 9-yard completion to running back David Montgomery.
Two plays later, Goff found receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 18-yard gain down to the Giants’ 15-yard line. A pass interference call on the Giants then gave the Lions 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
On 2nd and goal, Goff, trying to evade pressure, threw it towards the back of the end zone with no receivers available, forcing an intentional grounding call that pushed the Lions offense back 10 yards. But the Lions then scored on a screen pass from Goff to St. Brown, giving them their first touchdown of the game and St. Brown his ninth receiving touchdown of the season.
Giants extend lead on short field goal
End 1Q: Giants 10, Lions 0
On 3rd-and-6 from the Giants’ 14-yard line, Winston completed a 12-yard pass to receiver Wan’Dale Robinson to give New York a bit of breathing room. He followed that immediately with a 40-yard pass to Robinson, and then found Robinson two plays later on a 15-yard pass that netted seven additional yards after a personal foul called on safety Brian Branch.
The Lions defense held strong near the goal line, however, forcing the Giants to complete a 21-yard field goal as time expired in the first quarter. The Giants are up by two scores after one quarter.
Amon-Ra St. Brown drops another pass, Lions punt again
Following a three-and-out and shanked punt, the Lions began their drive at their own 47-yard line.
After a three-yard loss from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, quarterback Jared Goff attempted to find Amon-Ra St. Brown with a pass up the middle, but St. Brown dropped the pass for what would have been a first down. St. Brown’s drops have been a big story so far this season, as the normally sure-handed receiver hasn’t been as secure with his catches.
A short gain on a pass in the flat to running back David Montgomery then forced a 4th-and-9 from the Lions’ 48-yard line, leading to another punt.
The Giants will start on their own 10-yard line after a 42-yard punt from Jack Fox.
Lions punt on opening drive
The Lions kicked off their first drive with back-to-back runs from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who gained five and four yards, respectively, on each attempt. A couple of play-action passes to the flat then got the Lions into New York territory, while a toss to Gibbs gained 10 yards and brought the Lions to the Giants’ 39-yard line.
Two plays later, the Lions found themselves in a 3rd-and-7 on the 36. Giants defensive lineman Darius Alexander then sacked Lions quarterback Jared Goff for an 8-yard loss, sending out the punting unit.
The Giants will start with the ball on their own 8-yard line after a 41-yard punt from Jack Fox.
Giants score on trick play touchdown pass
1Q, 12:56: Giants 7, Lions 0
Giants quarterback Jameis Winston found receiver Darius Slayton on a play-action completion for a 23-yard play on the opening drive from scrimmage. The Lions then held the Giants to three total yards on the next three plays, but an offsides penalty on Aidan Hutchinson gave the Giants new life on a third-and-2 on the Detroit 39-yard line.
The Giants then executed a trick play on a toss to running back Devin Singletary, who tossed it back to Winston, who heaved it towards the end zone. Though two Lions defenders were crashing down on the pass, receiver Wan’Dale Robinson hauled in the catch in the back of the end zone to give the Giants the opening score.
Malcolm Rodriguez makes tackle on opening kickoff
Back from injury for the first time in 2025, Detroit linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez made an immediate impact, tackling kick returner Gunner Olszewski at the New York 30-yard line.
Lions win toss and defer
The Giants will receive the ball to start the game.
Lions getting ready for pregame intros
What do the Detroit Lions and legendary emo band My Chemical Romance have in common?
Probably not much, but that didn’t stop the team’s social media team from making the connection.
Arthur Maulet getting first start of 2025
Lions cornerback D.J. Reed is expecting to make his return against the Giants, but he won’t be starting the game according to the lineups shown on the Ford Field jumbotron.
In his place will be veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet, who will make his first start of the season (though he has played extensively over five games in 2025).
Kalif Raymond close to record
Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond needs only 38 punt return yards to break the Lions’ franchise record for career punt return yardage, and you can expect him to attempt a return when he gets the opportunity.
Our Lions insider Dave Birkett caught up with Raymond earlier this week for his Five Questions installment.
Lions looking to avoid consecutive losses
If recent history is any indication, the Lions probably aren’t losing this game.
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out, the Lions have won 13 games in a row following a loss, dating back to 2022. They’re also favored by 13½ points according to the latest betting lines from BetMGM.
Malcolm Rodriguez returning
Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez hasn’t played in 2025 while recovering from an ACL injury suffered in 2024. He’ll be active for the first time this year against the Giants, though it’s unclear how much he will play.
D.J. Reed getting ready
Lions cornerback D.J. Reed, who signed a three-year, $48 million contract ahead of the 2025 season, hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring strain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.
That changes today, as Reed was taken off injured reserve on Saturday and is expected to play against the Giants.
Lions inactives
As expected, Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold and safety Kerby Joseph have been listed as inactive, along with four other players.
Offensive linemen Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, who were listed as questionable on the Friday injury report, are active and expected to play.
Jameson Williams touchdown streak
After recording zero receptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has been on a hot streak, recording at least four receptions and one receiving touchdown in each of his last three games.
If he gets one touchdown catch today, it will set a new career high for him for consecutive games with a touchdown reception (four).
Chicago Bears get a break
The Lions are currently looking up in the NFC North standings at the first-place Chicago Bears, who play the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
But the Steelers will be without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, instead starting backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has thrown only 18 passes so far this season.
Lions uniform combo
It’s not much of a secret if you’ve been following the Lions on social media this week, but the Lions will be wearing their black uniforms today for the second time this season.
Lions vs Giants channel, TV schedule
Additionally, the Lions-Giants game can be streamed on Fubo, which carries Fox and CBS channels, and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Stream Lions vs Giants on Fubo
Lions vs Giants announcers
Lions vs Giants odds
The Lions are big home favorites against the Giants ahead of their Week 12 matchup.
Odds are provided by BetMGM as of Sunday morning.
Lions vs Giants prediction
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press: The sky isn’t falling for the Lions with three losses in their past five games, but they need to right the ship before December and this is the perfect opportunity. The Giants have played close games the past two weeks, but they’re not a good team overall. I expect the Lions to have their way offensively and for Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and the running game to get back on track. The pick: Lions 34, Giants 17.
Lions schedule 2025
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions vs Giants score, highlights in Week 12 game
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
