Jake Bates kicked a 22-yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the Detroit Lions to a 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The win lifts the Lions to 4-2 and pushes them past the 4-3 Packers into third place in the competitive NFC North division, where all four teams currently hold winning records.
Lions Beat Green Bay in Tight NFC North Race
“Every division game is important,” said Lions safety Brian Branch. “We need them. These are games that feel like playoff games.” Branch returned to the field for his first action since suffering a torn left Achilles tendon last December, recording an interception in the fourth quarter.
The NFC North remains tightly contested. Every team in the division sits above .500, raising the stakes for every divisional matchup. The Lions secured their second win by edging out Green Bay in the closing seconds.
Missed Green Bay Kicks Lead to Lions Victory
Detroit capitalized on late special teams miscues by Green Bay kicker Trey Smack, who missed field goals from 26 and 35 yards. A Lions player deflected Smack’s 35-yard attempt with 3:21 remaining in regulation. Had it succeeded, that kick would have given the Packers a 20-17 lead.
The blocked kick handed possession back to quarterback Jared Goff and the Detroit offense. Goff leaned heavily on running back Jahmyr Gibbs to march into scoring range, setting up Bates for the game-winning kick.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown turned in his strongest performance of the season for Detroit, hauling in nine catches for 153 yards. Teammate Jameson Williams provided the scores, catching two touchdown passes while totaling 91 yards.
Coaching Decisions on Fourth Downs
Both teams left points on the field through aggressive play-calling. The Lions failed on two fourth-down attempts—one near the goal line and another at their own 24-yard line with under five minutes left on the clock.
“On one hand, I thought we would get it,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “On the other hand, I knew we would get the ball back if it didn’t work out.”
Green Bay converted three of four fourth-down tries, but missed field goals proved costly. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged the missed opportunities after the final whistle. “We had great field position, but we just didn’t capitalize on it,” LaFleur said. “We missed two kicks, but we know Trey is capable of making them.”
Josh Jacobs Returns to Green Bay’s Backfield
Packers running back Josh Jacobs made his season debut after missing the first six games due to legal issues. Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list before the season following battery and property damage charges filed in Wisconsin in August. In his return, Jacobs gained 91 yards and scored a 25-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jordan Love.
The league’s investigation remains ongoing, leaving open the possibility of future discipline from the NFL despite Jacobs’ return to active duty.
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