The Detroit Lions came from behind the Houston Texans to triumph 26-23 on Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium. The Lions’ victory enshrined itself in the history books, despite toiling for the game’s first three quarters.
The score was tied 23-23 when Lions kicker Jake Bates nailed a 52-yard field goal at the buzzer. Bates’ exploit saw the Lions extend their winning streak to seven games, burying Goff’s efforts earlier in the game on a positive note.
Heading into halftime, the Lions trailed 23-7 after Goff threw three interceptions in the first half. The 30-year-old former first overall pick threw two more in the third quarter. However, despite those flaws, the game’s tide eventually turned in favor of the Detroit Lions. Hopefully, the Detroit Lions can quickly find suitable replacements from the NFL 2024 draft or sooner for the veteran.
Jared Goff’s interceptions of five marked a career-high for him, possibly suggesting that the star athlete may be significantly aging and past his best days in the game. Thankfully, the team rallied around Goff, showcasing their strong ability to overcome adversity.
Detroit rattled off 16 unanswered points to tie the game with only 5 minutes left in the match after Bates’ terrific 58-yard field goal. Expectedly, the Texans did all they could to regain their lead, their best efforts being a 58-yarder from Ka’imi Fairbairns with under two minutes left. Fairbairn missed his side’s final chance to the left, sealing a historic comeback for the Detroit Lions.
Ultimately, Goff and Bates were the night’s heroes for Detroit, demonstrating a game-winning drive as time-expired. The victory meant that Goff and Bates maintained their one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North standings at a record of 8-1.
Detroit Lions Make History
According to a report by the Associated Press, the Lions are 8-1 for the first time since 1954 and have become the first team to win a game despite throwing five or more interceptions since 2012 after the Atlanta Falcons beat the Arizona Cardinals with Matt Ryan, throwing five picks.
Following the game, Bates said about his historic win, “I just don’t’ deserve this. I was a soccer player growing up, I idolized football players in the NFL, and just to be here is surreal. I’m still pinching myself.”
Houston coach DeMeco Ryans admitted that his team underperformed their visitors during the match. “We didn’t make the plays to win the game… to win games guys have to step up and make plays and that’s not happening,” Ryans said. The Lions will look to continue their winning streak in Week 10 when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Final Note
The Detroit Lions staged a historic comeback to maintain their winning streak after beating the Houston Texans 26-23 in a thrilling encounter last Sunday. The Lions trailed 23-7 to the Lions before tying the game with only five minutes left before Bates’ threw a 52-yard field goal to hand his side the victory.