Jake Bates nailed a 35-yard field goal as time expired, securing a thrilling 34-31 victory for the Detroit Lions over the Green Bay Packers and clinching a playoff spot for Detroit. This win marked the Lions’ franchise-record 11th consecutive victory.
Quarterback Jared Goff played a pivotal role, completing 32 of 41 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns went to wide receiver Tim Patrick, while running back Jahmyr Gibbs caught another, and David Montgomery added a rushing touchdown. The Lions’ bold decision-making was evident, with two touchdowns coming on fourth-down conversions. A crucial fourth-down call with 43 seconds remaining set up Montgomery for a seven-yard gain, placing Detroit in position for the game-winning field goal.
With this victory, the Lions secured a playoff berth for the second consecutive year, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 1994-95 seasons. Goff finished strong, completing his last 13 passes, including five on the game-winning drive. He began the drive with a 10-yard connection to Jameson Williams and later hit Gibbs for a fourth-down touchdown just before halftime to put Detroit up 17-7.
Green Bay mounted a comeback in the second half, taking a brief lead after scoring two touchdowns. However, Goff’s second touchdown pass to Patrick put Detroit ahead 24-21 in the third quarter. Green Bay answered with a touchdown of their own, briefly leading 28-24 in the fourth. But Goff responded again, throwing a touchdown to Patrick to regain the lead, and after Green Bay tied it at 31, Bates’ field goal sealed the win.
For Green Bay, quarterback Jordan Love threw for 206 yards and one touchdown to Tucker Kraft, while running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 66 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the loss, Green Bay remains in the playoff hunt with a 9-4 record, while the Lions, now 12-1, lead the NFC North, ahead of the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings.
