The Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot with an exciting 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Quarterback Jared Goff led the team with three touchdown passes, and kicker Jake Bates sealed the win with a 35-yard field goal as time expired. This marked the Lions' 11th consecutive win, a franchise record, improving their record to 12-1 and maintaining their lead in the NFC North over the Minnesota Vikings (10-2).
Coach Dan Campbell's aggressive play-calling was pivotal, including several fourth-down conversions. David Montgomery's crucial 7-yard run late in the game ensured the Lions could attempt the game-winning kick without giving the Packers another chance. Tim Patrick stood out with two touchdown receptions, and Jahmyr Gibbs also contributed a key touchdown catch on a fourth-down play The Packers, now 9-4, kept the game competitive with three rushing touchdowns by Josh Jacobs and a solid performance from quarterback Jordan Love. However, the Lions' consistent offense and key defensive stops proved decisive in this thrilling divisional matchup
Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III knocked the ball out of Packers wide receiver Christian Watson's hands at the Packers' 44-yard line and the ball was recovered by linebacker David Long Jr. at the Lions' 46-yard line. Detroit turned the takeaway into a 43-yard Jake Bates field goal and a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Green Bay answered the Bates field goal with their first points of the night on a 1-yard Josh Jacobs touchdown run to finish an 11-play, 70-yard drive that took seven and half minutes off the second-quarter clock. Following the Jacobs touchdown with five minutes and 35 seconds left in the first half, Goff led the Lions 70 yards down the field and pushed the lead to 17-7 with just 10 seconds remaining in the half on a 4th & goal play from the 2-yard line on a terrific option route from Gibbs to beat Packers linebacker, Isaiah McDuffie. Detroit went into the half with the lead, but it took less than four minutes into the third quarter for the Packers to erase it.
Coach Dan Campbell's aggressive play-calling was pivotal, including several fourth-down conversions. David Montgomery's crucial 7-yard run late in the game ensured the Lions could attempt the game-winning kick without giving the Packers another chance. Tim Patrick stood out with two touchdown receptions, and Jahmyr Gibbs also contributed a key touchdown catch on a fourth-down play The Packers, now 9-4, kept the game competitive with three rushing touchdowns by Josh Jacobs and a solid performance from quarterback Jordan Love. However, the Lions' consistent offense and key defensive stops proved decisive in this thrilling divisional matchup
Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III knocked the ball out of Packers wide receiver Christian Watson's hands at the Packers' 44-yard line and the ball was recovered by linebacker David Long Jr. at the Lions' 46-yard line. Detroit turned the takeaway into a 43-yard Jake Bates field goal and a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Green Bay answered the Bates field goal with their first points of the night on a 1-yard Josh Jacobs touchdown run to finish an 11-play, 70-yard drive that took seven and half minutes off the second-quarter clock. Following the Jacobs touchdown with five minutes and 35 seconds left in the first half, Goff led the Lions 70 yards down the field and pushed the lead to 17-7 with just 10 seconds remaining in the half on a 4th & goal play from the 2-yard line on a terrific option route from Gibbs to beat Packers linebacker, Isaiah McDuffie. Detroit went into the half with the lead, but it took less than four minutes into the third quarter for the Packers to erase it.
