Fast becoming an indelible part of Detroit sports history is Jake Bates. The kicker for the Detroit Lions once again came through in the clutch, this time with a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds of Thursday Night Football’s 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers, their divisional rivals.
With only three minutes remaining in the game, the Lions offense chewed up the clock as they marched down the field, tying the score at 31-31. On third down, the Packer’s defense came up big by intercepting David Montgomery, the Lions running back, as Detroit drew nearer to the red zone.
With 40 seconds left and no timeouts remaining, Detroit would have been well-served by kicking a field goal to go up three points. Green Bay would have then received the ball. However, head coach Dan Campbell of the Lions has shown time and time again that he is unfazed by any challenge that may arise during a game.
Playoff Qualifying Detroit Lions Announced
According to sports analysis reports, this is Bates’ third game-winning goal of the season. His previous kick was against the Houston Texans less than a month ago. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff tripped on the handoff, but he still got the ball to Montgomery, who grabbed the first down and set up the game-winning kick.
The win gave the Lions their best winning streak, 11 games, and guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs. The Lions have not made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1995. With their 12-1 record, the Detroit Lions have tied a team record for most victories in a season.
When asked about the bold play call by the coach, Campbell informed reporters after the game that he thought the offense needed to win the game.
Where Were the Packers?
In terms of the Packers, it was a story with two sides. Halftime came with Green Bay behind 17-7, with the lone score coming from a running touchdown by Josh Jacobs.
Both sides exchanged scores in the second half, with Jacobs adding two more running touchdowns to his day’s tally, bringing his total to three. Tim Patrick, a receiver with the Lions, recorded two touchdown grabs in this game despite not scoring in 1,082 days due to a damaged Achilles tendon and ACL he suffered in prior years.
After tying the game at 31 late in the fourth quarter with a field goal, the Packers decided to kick a field goal. Campbell’s choice to go for it helped secure the victory. The Green Bay Packers dropped to 9-4 on the season despite quarterback Jordan Love’s performance, which included 206 yards passing and a score on 12-of-20 attempts. Teams with nine or more victories are the only ones to which the squad has lost four times.
On Sunday Night Football next week, the Packers will face the Seahawks in Seattle, while the Lions will host the Buffalo Bills, who won the AFC East. After clinching the division, the Lions’ next goal should be to lock down the top seed in the NFC and earn a bye into the playoffs.
