By taking one enormous gamble after another, the Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, moving to 12-1 and securing a postseason berth. With a 34-31 victory over the Packers, those choices paid off, and the Lions are now in the running for the NFC’s top seed.
Dan Campbell, the coach of Detroit, saw his team score scores on two fourth-down conversions. In the fourth quarter, he saw another fourth-down attempt fail and division rival Green Bay seize the lead. However, with 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the chance to attempt a game-winning field goal, Campbell took the greatest risk of all by going for it again on fourth down, missing the opportunity to win the game with a field goal.
The Packers would have no time to respond if Convert and Detroit were able to score. Jordan Love, the quarterback for Green Bay, and Fail would get the ball and had a chance to give the Lions ’ first defeat since Week 2. Despite quarterback Jared Goff tripping to the ground while passing the ball, the Lions converted. As time ran out, Jake Bates of Detroit made the game-winning field goal two plays later.
Goff’s passing total was 3 touchdowns, 283 yards, and an interception. David Montgomery added a touchdown run after rushing for the game-winning first down in the last minute. The victory marks Detroit’s eleventh consecutive victory as a franchise. Josh Jacobs led the Packers (9-4) with three running scores, but they were restricted to 99 rushing yards, which was more than 40 yards less than their season average.
Love had 206 yards and a touchdown on four passes that Christian Watson caught for 114 yards. Green Bay’s slender chances of winning the NFL’s most competitive division, the NFC North, depended on defeating the Lions. After scoring 14 points in the third quarter, Green Bay overtook their 17-7 deficit at the half. It was one of the game’s five lead changes.