Streaking Detroit Lions, blunders doom Miami Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Playmakers were snails sliding through fresh concrete Sunday as the streaking Detroit Lions scraped by the Miami Dolphins for their fourth consecutive win.

Fans waited nearly 44 minutes of game time for the lone touchdown of the defensive duel -- a third-quarter run from running back Jahmyr Gibbs -- as the Lions triumphed 19-9 in Miami Gardens, Fla.

"I told them, as a coach, there are things we need to clean up," Lions coach Dan Campbell said at his postgame news conference. "We can be much better. We created some of our own issues at times. Ultimately, we played pretty good defense."

The Lions, who allowed 29.6 points per game through their first five contests this season, surrendered an average of just 13.6 in three contests since their Week 6 bye.

"We've cleaned a lot up," Campbell said. "Guys are trusting what they are being taught. They are executing it. With that execution comes confidence."

Lions defenders consistently bothered Malik Willis on Sunday with dynamic pressure, forcing awkward attempts and denying the Dolphins quarterback of a rhythm.

Dolphins defenders also limited the Lions, who entered the matchup with the NFL's top offense.

"I'm proud of the defense," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said. "Certainly, as a competitor, I thought we could have made some more plays at the end. ... Maybe their best performance of the year against, in my opinion, the most explosive offense in the NFL."

All of the Dolphins' points came courtesy of three Zane Gonzalez field goals. The tight tilt featured two successful fake punts for first downs, six sacks and eight field goals attempts.

The Dolphins (1-7) were doomed by an inconsistent passing game, a turnover, untimely penalties and other errors, including a missed Gonzalez field goal attempt. The sluggish performance dropped them to 0-4 at home this season.

The Lions (6-2) used their balanced attack to establish early control. They took 6:36 off the clock on the game's opening drive, which ended with a Jake Bates field goal.

Gonzalez tied the score at the end of the quarter with a 34-yard kick. Bates split the uprights with a 40-yard attempt right before halftime to give the Lions their second lead, which they would not surrender.

Bates made his third field goal on the Lions' first drive of the second half. Gonzalez answered with a 52-yard kick on the next drive. But Gibbs scored his 8-yard touchdown on the next drive to give the Lions insurance.

Bates and Gonzalez each connected on additional field goals in the fourth quarter. Neither team sniffed the end zone over the final 16:19.

Gibbs logged 74 yards and a score off 20 carries. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown totaled a game-high 86 yards off eight catches. Quarterback Jared Goff completed 17 of 25 passes for 170 yards and an interception.

Defensive end Derrick Moore sacked Willis twice in the win. Safety Chuck Clark snagged his first interception since 2021.

"I thought, defensively, they did a good job against us," Goff said. "Played with good depth, made us keep the ball underneath. ... They did a good job. We certainly had our opportunities to blow it open a little sooner than that and didn't take advantage of them."

Willis completed just 13 of 25 passes for 128 yards and an interception. Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson recorded the first interception of his career in the loss.

The Lions will face the New England Patriots (5-3) on Nov. 15 in Munich. The Dolphins will play the Indianapolis Colts (2-6) on Nov. 15 in Indianapolis.