Back in 2023, the previous time the Detroit Lions squared off against the Ravens, they were demolished and embarrassed at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, falling 38-6.

Fast-forward to Monday night, under the primetime spotlight, fans in Detroit were hoping for redemption but also bracing against another collapse. That fear never came true. Instead, the Lions earned a thrilling 38-30 win over Baltimore in what must be labeled a massively impressive performance.

If you were a fan, the only word to utter during the contest was “unbelievable.” The offensive line excelled. The defense was superb. The backfield, led by David Montgomery, shined. The receiving corps, including Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, delivered. Quarterback Jared Goff was excellent. And the coaching staff was exceptional.

Even kicker Jake Bates had a highlight, making a clutch tackle on returner Rasheen Ali, who otherwise had a clear lane to the end zone.

“We played complete football. We followed the plan we set out,” Coach Dan Campbell explained afterward. “We found ways to contain Lamar… This was a monumental victory.”

Analysts chimed in with their assessments: Detroit succeeded because of offensive imagination, defensive grit, improved protection up front, and a perfectly crafted defensive scheme.

But the most promising element of the win? The Lions’ ability to pound the ball directly through the heart of Baltimore’s defense. This rebuilt offensive line truly seems to have taken another step forward.

This was nothing short of a heavyweight bout. No better way to define it. A spectacular game for any football purist, and even more special for anyone in Detroit. The Lions embraced the challenge of facing Jackson, Henry, and the Ravens head-on. They recalled the sting of that 38-6 defeat two years earlier and used it as fuel.

They protected the ball. They got crucial stops. They cashed in inside the red zone. They dropped Jackson seven times. They converted fourth downs at will. One key conversion, capped by Montgomery’s 31-yard scoring run, sealed the deal. Every key box was checked. It wasn’t easy, but it was enough.

Nightfall blanketed Baltimore as the Ravens (1-2) entered a stretch of defensive and offensive self-examination. Detroit amassed 224 rushing yards and sacked Lamar Jackson seven times en route to their 38-30 road victory on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Running back Derrick Henry had another rough outing, fumbling for the third straight game while being held to just 50 yards and one touchdown on 12 attempts. Detroit dominated time of possession by seven minutes, pounding the ball 38 times with Jahmyr Gibbs and Montgomery.

Baltimore’s defense was dreadful. Truly dreadful. Yet its offense gave it no relief. Whenever points were scored, it happened too fast, sending defenders back onto the field. More often, the offense faltered with turnovers or three-and-outs, leaving the defense gassed after marathon drives. Missing Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy didn’t help, though the struggles went deeper. Normally the offense bails them out. Not this time — both sides fell short.

Detroit’s staff spent the week stressing how they were bullied in Baltimore two years ago, and on Monday they looked every bit like a Dan Campbell-coached squad. The Ravens, meanwhile, didn’t resemble a John Harbaugh unit. They were outmatched in the trenches and failed in the clutch moments.

Baltimore almost never gets handled this soundly, which is concerning before their Week 4 trip to Kansas City. If Madubuike and Van Noy are sidelined long-term, this contest might foreshadow defensive struggles all year.

The Lions (2-1) overwhelmed Jackson, piling up seven sacks while outrushing the Ravens 224 to 85. Detroit pieced together scoring drives of 98 and 96 yards against a Baltimore front missing Madubuike and struggling mightily to withstand their physicality.

With a 31-24 lead at the two-minute warning, Detroit gambled on fourth-and-2 from their own 49. Jared Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 21 yards, and Montgomery iced the game with a 31-yard touchdown moments later, finishing his night with 151 rushing yards.

In four previous trips to Baltimore, including 2023, the Lions had never won — nor come closer than nine points. That changed on Monday as Jared Goff set the tone early and Detroit’s weapons shined.

Running backs Gibbs and Montgomery, plus All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, each found the end zone. It marked the 10th game in which all three had a scrimmage touchdown, the most ever by any trio of teammates in league history, according to ESPN Research.

Detroit stormed into Baltimore on Monday Night Football and outclassed the Ravens. That might not even capture the level of domination they showed against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense.

Seven sacks of one of football’s premier quarterbacks, multiple breakups, and near interceptions sent Detroit out of M&T Bank Stadium with a 2-1 record.

This team trusts itself, and that confidence is everything.

But it matters most in hostile situations like this. On the road in Baltimore, where opponents often crumble. In primetime, where the Ravens rarely lose. In crunch time, when most games are won or lost.

Dan Campbell was never going to let his team fold. Instead, he gave them the chance to take control — and the Lions seized it, with every fan watching holding their breath as Detroit stamped its statement victory.