The Detroit Lions rallied from five turnovers and a challenging first half to defeat the Houston Texans 26-23 on Sunday night.
Jake Bates nailed two crucial field goals in the fourth quarter, sealing the Lions’ victory.
Detroit’s first half was rough, with quarterback Jared Goff throwing three interceptions and the Lions scoring only seven points.
The Lions’ opening drive ended with an interception on the fifth play, and the Texans quickly responded with a touchdown after an eight-play, 33-yard drive.
After a Lions three-and-out, Houston added a field goal. Detroit then countered with an impressive 11-play, 70-yard drive, capped by Goff’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta, cutting the Texans’ lead to 10-7.
Houston responded with another field goal, and Goff’s second interception set up a third Texans field goal, extending their lead to 16-7.
Following two Detroit three-and-outs, Houston went 66 yards near the end of the half, extending their lead to 23-7 by halftime.
Detroit’s cornerback Carlton Davis III intercepted CJ Stroud on the first play of the second half, shortly after head coach Dan Campbell emphasized the need for turnovers on the broadcast.
Yet, just three plays later, Goff threw his fourth interception, but Houston failed to capitalize, going three-and-out and punting.
The Lions followed up with a 44-yard drive, highlighted by Goff’s 37-yard pass to LaPorta, setting up David Montgomery’s three-yard touchdown run, trimming Houston’s lead to 23-13.
Detroit and Houston exchanged interceptions, followed by punts from both teams, leaving the score at 23-13 by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Detroit showed resilience, driving 64 yards over seven plays. Goff’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, aided by a remarkable catch from Jameson Williams and a 24-yard screen pass to Montgomery, brought the Lions within three at 23-20.
Detroit’s defense kept the Texans in check, sacking Stroud a fourth time and forcing another punt. Jahmyr Gibbs then had two significant runs, putting the Lions in Houston territory.
Unable to advance further, Bates drilled a 58-yard field goal, tying the game at 23 with five minutes remaining—Detroit’s third-longest field goal in franchise history.
The Lions’ defense stopped the Texans again, and Houston’s 58-yard field goal attempt went wide left, giving Detroit the ball with under two minutes left.
The Lions continued to drive downfield, converting a crucial third down with a pass from Goff to St. Brown, reaching field goal range. After a timeout with four seconds left, Bates hit a 52-yard field goal, giving Detroit a 26-23 win.
With this victory, the Lions improved to 8-1 and will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday at Ford Field.
