Lions overcome slow start to beat Dolphins, 19-9

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Trap game, let-down spot — whatever you want to call it, the Detroit Lions had an extremely slow start offensively against the one-win Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8.

The Lions couldn't block and couldn't throw for nearly three full quarters following two massive divisional wins, performing a high-wire act and surviving because of their defense before pulling away in the final 16:20 for a 19-9 win.

Already down starting center Cade Mays, the Lions (6-2) opted to give second-year guard Miles Frazier his first career start in the place of Christian Mahogany, who's had a resurgent season and was in uniform for the contest.

The Lions' offensive line was arguably its worst unit; quarterback Jared Goff was under pressure from whistle to whistle, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs was popped for one negative play after another.

The tide finally turned late in the third quarter as Goff found completions of 31 (Jameson Williams) and 17 (Amon-Ra St. Brown) yards to quickly reach the red zone. The Lions nearly stalled again but hit pay dirt on a fourth-and-1 pitch to Gibbs, who outran linebacker Jordyn Brooks to the pylon and gave the Lions a 16-6 lead with 1:20 remaining in the third.

The score extended Detroit's touchdown streak to 70 games. Detroit's defense, meanwhile, didn't allow a touchdown for the first time since Week 18 of the 2024 season.

Earlier in the week, Lions coach Dan Campbell proclaimed the Dolphins (1-7) weren't to be taken lightly, saying they remind him of the scrappy 2021 version of his Lions.

It turned out to be prophetic.

But the Lions were fortunate Miami couldn't get out of its own way. The Dolphins were flagged 11 times for 87 yards — erasing several big offensive plays in the process — and kicker Zane Gonzalez shanked a 38-yard field-goal attempt off the upright on the final play of the second quarter, preserving Detroit's 6-3 lead going into halftime.

The Lions were sloppy, too, giving up 63 free yards on nine penalties, one flag short of tying a season-high.

The silver lining is that the Lions' defense turned in another stellar performance, albeit against a team ranked 27th in total offense entering the week. But the Lions were also without linebacker Jack Campbell, cornerback D.J. Reed and edge defender DJ Wonnum in the contest.

Detroit held Miami to 228 yards of offense, including just 128 through the air from quarterback Malik Willis, who was 13-for-25 passing. Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon was held to 3.4 yards per carry while rushing for 55 yards on 16 attempts.

The Dolphins found some life with 14:55 in the fourth quarter. After the Lions executed a fake punt in the first half, Dolphins punter Bradley Pinion completed a pass to running back Kaytron Allen that netted 46 yards.

But the Lions' pass rush finally got home for the first time all game, stunting the drive on first-and-goal from the 7 with a sack by defensive tackle Alim McNeill. Rookie edge defender Derrick Moore sacked Willis on third down, the first of Moore's career, to force a 34-yard field goal by Gonzalez to keep the Lions up a touchdown, 16-9, with 9:26 to go in the game.

Moore added a second sack with just over four minutes to go in the game.

The Lions were 1-for-6 on third down in the first half and finished the game 3-for-12 as the league's No. 1 offense was held to just 270 net yards.

Goff was 17-for-25 passing for 170 yards and Gibbs was held to 74 yards on 20 carries, an average of 3.7 yards. St. Brown led the team in receiving with eight catches for 86 yards.

The Lions picked up a fourth-and-3 on their opening drive en route to reaching first-and-goal at the 6-yard line, but couldn't punch it in as Goff was sacked on third down after multiple linemen lost their blocks. Detroit settled for a 28-yard field goal from Jake Bates to go up 3-0 with 8:22 to go in the first quarter.

The Dolphins forced Goff's second interception of the season when former University of Michigan star Josh Uche hit Goff's hand during the release, allowing Chris Johnson to pick off the misfire and return it to Detroit's 39-yard line.

Miami capitalized on the field position and tied the game 3-3 on a 34-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez with 1:02 left in the opening quarter.

With 14:55 left in the second quarter, the Lions executed a fake punt as punter Jack Fox completed an 11-yard pass to wide receiver Tay Martin, but it was all for naught as Goff was sacked on third-and-9 during the ensuing set of downs.

Late in the second quarter, another Lions drive stalled in Dolphins territory after Gibbs was stuffed for a loss of 3 on consecutive plays. The Lions settled for a 40-yard field goal from Bates to regain their lead, 6-3, with 3:30 remaining in the first half.

The Dolphins moved the ball downfield to end the second quarter and even reached the 10-yard line of Detroit before a holding penalty backed them up for a field-goal try by Gonzalez, who shanked the kick off the right upright to maintain Detroit's lead, 6-3, going into halftime.

Veteran safety Chuck Clark intercepted Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis with 13:38 to go in the third quarter and returned the ball to the 26-yard line of Miami, a huge opportunity for the Lions to go up two scores to begin the half.

But after moving inside the 10-yard line of Miami, the Lions were called for a false start, and Goff's third-down throw was incomplete. The Lions settled for a 33-yard field goal from Bates, his third, to go up 9-3 at 9:14 in the third quarter.

Miami added the game's fifth field goal to cut the deficit to three points, 9-6, at 4:00 in the third quarter. Gonzalez hit a 52-yard kick to get back within arm's reach.

But the Lions found life at the end of the third quarter to begin pulling away as the two teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter.

Now Detroit will have to turn the page quickly as it faces the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, next week.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions overcome slow start to beat Dolphins, 19-9