Fans were buzzing after the Detroit Lions went into their bag on Monday to run a trick play against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Lions and Ravens were tied at 21 entering the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The Lions, facing 4th-and-1 just a couple of yards outside the end zone, needed a surefire way to get at least one yard.
Detroit thought outside the box to get their yard, and then some. Jared Goff handed the ball off to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who immediately flicked it to running back Jahmyr Gibbs waiting on the right side. Gibbs had a wide-open lane to the pylon for a touchdown.
Step 1: Hand it to Amon-Ra ✅
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 23, 2025
Step 2: Pitch it to Jah ✅
Step 3: Hit the TD celly ✅ pic.twitter.com/GlZiAL13zy
Fans who saw the play couldn’t help but mention former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left the team in the offseason to become head coach of the Chicago Bears. Many noted how the Lions still had an inventive offense without Johnson, while others praised head coach Dan Campbell and new OC John Morton for picking up the slack.
But I thought the Lions only ran trick plays because of Ben Johnson?
— Bryce DeGroat (@NFL_Convo) September 23, 2025
Give Dan Campbell his respect👑pic.twitter.com/nioysmSDMP
WE DON’T NEED NO BEN JOHNSON!!!
— MMG (@PapaMeagzz) September 23, 2025
BEN JOHNSON WHO???
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) September 23, 2025
WE GOT JOHN MORTON pic.twitter.com/ADRXw5Z2fu
What a beautiful play call. Lions offense still clicking without Ben Johnson.
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) September 23, 2025
Johnson was largely credited as the mastermind behind Detroit’s high-powered offense over the last couple of years. Many wondered if the Lions’ offense would take a step back without Johnson calling plays.
That hasn’t been the case through the first three weeks of the 2025 season. The Lions have averaged 34.3 points per game through three contests, tied for the second-best mark in the NFL.
It also helped that the Lions pounded the Bears for 52 points in Week 2, which left Johnson having to answer some uncomfortable questions.
Detroit outgunned a Baltimore opponent on Monday that entered the game averaging an NFL-best 40.5 points. The Lions’ offense proved superior, outscoring the Ravens 38-30 to improve to 2-1.
