Lions leave it late to defeat the Packers
The Detroit Lions clinched an NFL play-off spot courtesy of a last second field goal by Jake Bates against Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
The 34-31 victory took their franchise-record winning streak to 11 games and helped them retain their status as the favourites in the NFL betting to win the Super Bowl.
Quarterback Jared Goff passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns, while David Montgomery had 84 combined yards rushing and receiving and scored a touchdown.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell was understandably delighted with the result and singled out Montgomery for special praise after the game
“This will be one of those you’ll never forget,” Campbell said. “I just felt like we needed to end it on offense. I did not want to give the ball back and I believed we could convert. I trust the O-line. I trust David.”
The victory was undoubtedly noteworthy for a team which many people believe is equipped to progress all the way to the Super Bowl this season.
Some pundits have questioned their credentials in recent weeks, but defeating the Packers in this manner highlights their ability to dig deep when the chips are down.
The Lions took a 17-7 lead into half-time, but the Packers roared back with 14 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter. However, the Lions found a way to win.
Despite injuries to several key players, Campbell’s team grabbed a crucial victory against a side which also has its sights set on winning the Super Bowl.
Linebacker Ezekiel Turner, who made a crucial tackle on Jordan Love to force a game-tying field goal, says the team’s intense training sessions are helping them achieve great things.
“The first week of practice I got here, I’m like, ‘okay, this is different from many of – probably every organisation’,” Turner said.
“It’s intense, very ‘attention to detail’ and you really have to prepare for every practice here like a game, really. And it shows. When the games come, and even if there’s new guys out there, the standard is standard.”
Getting over the play-off line with four games to spare gives the Lions some valuable breathing space ahead of the post-season schedule.
However, they will be eager to secure the number one seeding and know that three victories will guarantee that status, regardless of their rivals’ results.
That may be easier said than done, with the Lions still to face the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings before the end of the regular season.
Both teams have title aspirations of their own and will be eager to make a statement before the play-offs get underway in January.
The Lions will be desperate to keep rolling as they strive to reach the Super Bowl for the first time. They are the only NFC team never to achieve the feat.
Given the momentum they have built under Campbell, it would be no surprise to see them break their duck this season.
