Lions clinch playoff spot, beating Packers 34-31 on last-second field goal

Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, Jake Bates hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired, and the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on Thursday night, earning a playoff berth. obtained the right.

The NFC-powerful Lions (12-1) broke a franchise record with 11 straight wins, including two wins against the Packers (9-4), and moved ahead of Minnesota (10-2) in the highly competitive NFC North. .

Detroit coach Dan Campbell went for it on five fourth downs, including one with 1 yard left with 43 seconds left at the Green Bay 21, but his gamble backfired only once. It was just that.

David Montgomery ran for 7 yards. Barely takes over from Goff. after the quarterback stumbled and fell toward the turf. This allowed the Lions to attempt a field goal without giving the ball back to the Packers, and Bates took the winning kick, his third of the season.

Goff threw two touchdown passes on No. 4 and goal, one to Tim Patrick, who had two TD catches. He also had an interception in the third quarter and set up one of his three TD runs, matching Josh Jacobs’ career high.

Goff found Jahimul Gibbs open for a 2-yard pass in the end zone on fourth down with 11 seconds left in the first half, giving Detroit a 17-7 lead.

Goff then connected with Patrick for the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter.

Green Bay took advantage of the only time Campbell’s aggressiveness didn’t work, stopping Gibbs’ fourth-down run late in the third quarter from the Detroit 31.

Jacobs scored his third time on a 3-yard run on the ensuing drive.

In a game that saw the lead change hands four times early in the second half, Brandon McManus hit a 32-yard field goal with 3:38 left to bring the Packers within a 31-all tie.

The Lions’ final drive began with Goff’s 19-yard pass to Jameson Williams. He also connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for 16 yards on a crucial possession. Goff completed 32 of 41 for 283 yards, and six Lions players had at least five receptions.

Jordan Love completed 12 of 20 for 206 yards with a touchdown pass to Tucker Craft early in the third quarter.

injury

Packers: S Evan Williams (concussion), S Javon Bullard (ankle) and DE Lucas Van Ness (thumb) were injured during the game.

Lions: DL Alim McNeil briefly returned to play after being diagnosed with a concussion and left with a head injury.

to the next

Packers: Play against NFC West leader Seattle in a Sunday night game on December 15th.

Lions: Play against AFC East leader Buffalo on December 15th.

Associated Press reported.

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