Lions stun Texans in comeback thanks to former soccer player who once sold bricks
The Detroit Lions had just a 7.9% chance to win after Jared Goff threw five interceptions.
Dan Campbell’s tough team still managed to blank the Houston Texans 19-0 in the second half, pulling off a surprising 26-23 win on the road Sunday.
Typically, Detroit’s last-minute stars are players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, or Goff.
But with the Lions aiming to reach an NFC-best 8-1 record and stay competitive with Patrick Mahomes’ unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs, they turned to an unexpected hero in recent football memory.
Football wasn’t always this kind of football for Jake Bates.
The former Central Arkansas soccer player, already with a unique NFL journey, barely hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired in Houston.
“Eighteen months ago, I thought I was done with football,” Bates said. “I was working as a brick salesman.”
He wasn’t kidding.
Bates worked as a sales representative for Acme Brick near his hometown of Tomball, also home to NBA star Jimmy Butler and just 40 miles from the Texans’ NRG Stadium.
“There are days it feels like it’s never going to happen,” Bates told ABC13.
“There are days you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But good things come to those who work hard.
“What’s done in the dark will come to light eventually—tomorrow or years from now.”
The light came on Sunday night.
Bates went 2-for-2 on field goals, including a 58-yarder.
He ran around the field celebrating as Detroit reached 8-1, lifted by his Lions teammates.
Brian T. Smith thinks the Detroit Lions may be replacing the Dallas Cowboys as America’s team.
Making Bates’ journey even more remarkable, he was signed by the Texans last year as an undrafted free agent, only to be released two weeks later.
He went on to play for the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League.
During college football at Texas State, he was first used only for kickoffs.
“I don’t deserve this,” Bates said. “I was a soccer player as a kid.
“I idolized NFL players, and just being here is surreal. I’m still in disbelief.”
On a night Goff threw five interceptions and Detroit trailed 23-7 at halftime, the Lions turned to a former college soccer player cut by the Texans for a last-second chance.
“That was a tough game,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said.
“We had to battle our way back. I’m proud of these guys.
“There’s stuff to clean up, but they didn’t back down. They just didn’t quit.”
Neither did Bates, even when it seemed the NFL didn’t have a place for him.
“He’s lining up a 52-yarder for an incredible comeback,” NBC’s Mike Tirico said.
“For the win … it’s good! Just inside the uprights!
“Jake Bates, hometown hero. And the Lions have pulled off a comeback for the ages.”
