Jared Goff threw three landing passes, Jake Bates made a 35-yard area aim as time expired and the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Thursday evening.
The NFC-best Lions (12-1) broke a franchise report with their eleventh straight win – together with two over the Packers (9-4) – to remain forward of Minnesota (10-2) within the extremely aggressive NFC North.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth-down 5 occasions, succeeding on 4 of these events, together with with one yard to go on the Inexperienced Bay 21 with 43 seconds left. David Montgomery then ran for seven yards, barely getting a handoff from Goff after the quarterback tripped and was falling towards the turf. That ensured the Lions may attempt a area aim with out giving the Packers the ball again, and Bates hit his third-game-winning kick this season.
Goff threw two landing passes on fourth-and-goal, one to Tim Patrick, who had two TD catches. He additionally threw an interception within the third quarter to arrange one in all Josh Jacobs’ career-high matching three TD runs for the Packers.
Patrick mentioned Campbell had advised his staff earlier than the sport that they might be aggressive on fourth downs. “[Campbell] tell us earlier than the sport that if we’re shut we’re going for it [on fourth down] … and we went out and executed,” mentioned Patrick, who missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons resulting from damage. “We wished to finish the sport on our phrases.”
Campbell mentioned he religion his staff would make performs at essential occasions. “I simply felt like we would have liked to finish it on offense,” Campbell mentioned. “I didn’t need to give the ball again and I believed we may convert. I belief the O-line. I belief David.”
Goff discovered Jahymr Gibbs open ultimately zone for a two-yard go on a fourth down with 11 seconds left within the first half to place Detroit forward 17-7. Goff later related with Patrick on a go-ahead, one-yard landing go halfway by the fourth quarter.
Inexperienced Bay took benefit of the one time Campbell’s aggressiveness didn’t pan out, denying Gibbs on a fourth-down run late within the third quarter from the Detroit 31. Jacobs scored for a 3rd time on a three-yard run on the following drive.
Brandon McManus made a 32-yard area aim with 3:38 left to drag the Packers right into a 31-31 tie in a recreation that had 4 lead modifications earlier within the second half.
The Lions’ closing drive started with Goff’s 19-yard go to Jameson Williams. He additionally related with Amon-Ra St Brown for 16 yards on the decisive possession. Goff completed 32 of 41 for 283 yards, and 6 Lions gamers had a minimum of 5 receptions. Jordan Love was 12 of 20 for 206 yards with a landing go to Tucker Kraft early within the third quarter.
Patrick mentioned the sport had a specific resonance for him personally. “It’s my dad’s birthday tomorrow. He handed away and that was all him … I’m blessed, very blessed,” he mentioned.
