The Detroit Lions may have cruised to a 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but their offense didn’t exactly fire on all cylinders. Despite controlling the game from start to finish and improving to 5-2 before the bye week—topping the NFC North in the process—Jared Goff wasn’t completely satisfied. While the defense earned widespread praise for its dominance, the quarterback called out Detroit’s offense as he saw it.

“There was a lot that we left out there,” Jared Goff said, shaking his head. “We should have blown that game open, really, and we didn’t.”

And it wasn’t hard to see why. The Lions’ offense, while efficient on paper, struggled to capitalize on opportunities. They blew several chances to turn the game into an early rout, committing turnovers and missing open looks in the red zone. Goff finished just 1-for-7 on passes over 10 air yards, with an interception, meaning nearly 80% of his 241 passing yards came after the catch. Detroit went only 1-for-6 on third downs in the first half, forcing their defense to repeatedly bail them out. Even with a steady rhythm late in the game, the passing attack looked cautious– more reactive than aggressive. So, when Goff talks about leaving a lot out there, you see what he means? Still, Detroit’s offense stayed consistent.

They put points on the board in every quarter. Goff ran the show efficiently, completing 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. And another hero was Jahmyr Gibbs.

The young RB ripped through the Buccaneers’ defense. He posted 136 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 attempts, plus added three receptions for 82 more yards. In fact, his 218 scrimmage yards were the most by a Lions player in a game since Calvin Johnson’s 329 in 2013, and his explosive 78-yard touchdown run served as the offensive spark Detroit desperately needed on a night when Goff wasn’t at his best. And not just them, nearly every weapon got involved.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown put on another clinic with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Brock Wright chipped in with three grabs for 23 yards. David Montgomery caught a pair for 18. Kalif Raymond snagged three for 17, while Sam LaPorta added three for 15.

Meanwhile, Dan Campbell had something else on his mind. The head coach didn’t expect the defense to shut Tampa Bay down completely. As per Mike Payton, “Dan Campbell didn’t think the Lions would hold that offense to nine points.” Dan Campbell was focused on managing expectations, telling reporters he didn’t anticipate the Lions holding Tampa Bay.

So, even the coach was surprised by how dominant his team looked.

How dominant was the Lions’ defense?

Firstly, the Lions didn’t even have their full secondary in Week 7. D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Kerby Joseph, and Brian Branch were all sidelined. Yet, Detroit dominated the game.

So after the game, Dan Campbell didn’t hold back his appreciation for the group. “Defense played lights-out,” he said. “Those DBs, man. … I just thought those guys…competed, they challenged, and then our front came alive.”

That context made the defensive performance even more remarkable. Under first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, the Lions held Tampa Bay—who entered the week averaging 25+ points—to just nine. Baker Mayfield, who had been one of the league’s hottest quarterbacks, looked flustered all night, completing just 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards and a lone touchdown while missing multiple open receivers. Even when Mike Evans exited early with a concussion and shoulder injury, Detroit never let up, turning a patched-up secondary into a disciplined, opportunistic wall.

It was Amik Robertson who set the tone early with a forced fumble that Aidan Hutchinson pounced on. Arthur Maulet came through with a clutch interception that killed Tampa’s rhythm. Then Nick Whiteside shut down the air attack, breaking up three passes and denying a two-point try. Erick Hallett flew around all night, racking up eight tackles. Together, the secondary made life miserable for Baker Mayfield, finishing with eight passes defended.

Detroit’s defense tightened up when it mattered most, limiting Tampa Bay to just 4-of-16 on third-down conversions.

So, the Lions coach expressed full confidence in his defensive coordinator. “This is what I expected out of Kelvin Sheppard. This doesn’t surprise me,” Campbell said.

The Lions’ pass rush swarmed Mayfield for four sacks, one each from Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Tyrus Wheat, and Al-Quadin Muhammad. So, as per Campbell, it’s “just an outstanding defensive performance.”