The Detroit Lions did not need a highlight reel in Miami. They needed a reliable kicker, a fourth-down push and a defense that would not bend, and they got all three. Jake Bates made four field goals, Jahmyr Gibbs ran for the game’s only touchdown, and the Lions beat the Miami Dolphins, 19-9, on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The win was Detroit’s fourth straight and lifted the Lions to 6-2, according to the team’s official recap. It was also the first game linebacker Jack Campbell has missed in his career, the team said; he was placed on injured reserve last week after being hospitalized with a neck injury. The result sends the Lions into one of the most unusual weeks on their calendar: a trip to Germany to face the New England Patriots in Munich.
How the Lions beat the Dolphins
Detroit never trailed, The Associated Press reported, but it also never pulled away until late. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter, and Detroit led only 6-3 at halftime after Bates connected from 28 and 40 yards. Jared Goff’s lone interception, a tipped pass picked off by Miami rookie cornerback Chris Johnson, came in the first quarter.
The game turned in the third quarter. Bates added a 33-yarder, and after a 31-yard completion from Goff to Jameson Williams, Detroit’s longest play of the day, Gibbs scored on an 8-yard run on fourth-and-1, the team said. That made it 16-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Miami answered with a surprise. Punter Bradley Pinion threw a 46-yard pass to Kaytron Allen on a fake punt, setting up a 34-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez that cut the lead to 16-9. Lions coach Dan Campbell took the blame afterward, telling reporters, “That was on me,” according to the AP. Bates then closed the scoring with a 43-yard field goal with 4:28 left, his fourth make in four tries.
Playing for Jack Campbell
The absence of Campbell, who suffered the neck injury in Detroit’s Nov. 1 win over Minnesota, hung over the week. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and the team’s linebackers wore Campbell’s No. 46 jersey, the Lions said, and fans in Miami held “Campbell Strong” signs, the AP reported.
“The whole week was prepare and play like Jack,” Dan Campbell said after the game, according to the AP. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson described the week as walking a “balance beam of football and life.”
The defense played the way the coaches asked. Miami quarterback Malik Willis completed 13 of 25 passes for 128 yards with an interception, and the Dolphins went 0-for-3 in the red zone, according to the AP. Rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore, filling in for the injured DJ Wonnum, recorded the first two sacks of his career, the team’s recap said. For a closer look at who was missing before kickoff, see our Lions injury report for the Dolphins game.
Lions vs. Dolphins: the key numbers
| Category | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | Lions 19, Dolphins 9 | AP, Lions |
| Scoring by quarter | DET 3-3-10-3; MIA 3-0-3-3 | ESPN/AP |
| Jared Goff | 17 of 25, 170 yards, 1 INT, sacked 3 times | AP |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 20 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD | AP |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 86 receiving yards | AP |
| Jake Bates | 4 of 4 field goals (28, 33, 40, 43 yards) | AP, Lions |
| Lions total offense | 271 yards | AP |
| Dolphins penalties | 11 | AP |
The offense was efficient rather than explosive. Gibbs averaged 3.7 yards a carry, though his touchdown was his 11th from scrimmage this season, the AP noted. St. Brown, listed as questionable with a rib injury before the game, played through it.
What the win means for Detroit
The victory was Dan Campbell’s 54th in the regular season as Lions coach, moving him alone into second place in franchise history behind Wayne Fontes, who won 66 from 1988 to 1996, according to the AP.
It also kept Detroit close in a crowded division. After Sunday’s games, ESPN’s standings listed Minnesota at 6-1 atop the NFC North, with the Lions and the Chicago Bears at 6-2 and the Green Bay Packers at 5-3. Miami fell to 1-7.
What remains unclear is when Campbell, now on injured reserve, and Wonnum will return. The Lions’ first injury report for the Patriots game is expected later this week.
What’s next: Lions vs. Patriots in Munich
- Opponent: New England Patriots
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026
- Kickoff: 9:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. in Germany)
- Stadium: Allianz Arena, Munich
- TV: Fox
The Lions confirmed the date, kickoff and network in a team announcement. The early start means Detroit fans will need to plan their Sunday morning around it. The steps below cover how to watch and what to track this week.
How to follow the Munich game in 4 steps
- Mark Sunday, Nov. 15, and set an alarm: kickoff is 9:30 a.m. ET, three and a half hours earlier than a usual 1 p.m. start.
- Find Fox on your TV provider or antenna, or check the streaming and radio options in our guide to watching the Lions on TV, streaming and radio.
- Watch the Lions’ injury reports this week for updates on Wonnum, St. Brown and the rest of the roster on detroitlions.com.
- Check the full Detroit Lions 2026 schedule for the game after Munich so you can plan the rest of November.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Lions vs. Dolphins game?
The Lions won, 19-9, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. It was Detroit’s fourth consecutive win.
What is the Lions’ record after Week 9?
Detroit is 6-2. ESPN’s standings after Sunday listed the Lions second in the NFC North, behind 6-1 Minnesota and level with 6-2 Chicago.
Who scored for the Lions against Miami?
Jake Bates kicked field goals of 28, 33, 40 and 43 yards, and Jahmyr Gibbs scored the only touchdown on an 8-yard run in the third quarter.
When do the Lions play next?
The Lions face the New England Patriots at Allianz Arena in Munich on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 9:30 a.m. ET. The game airs on Fox.
Sources: The Associated Press via ClickOnDetroit, Detroit Lions, ESPN.
Last updated Nov. 9, 2026.
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