The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers gave us what could be considered the game of the week on Thursday night, as the Lions earned a dramatic 34-31 victory. Detroit has won a franchise-record 11 straight games, but this one wasn’t easy.
After Packers kicker Brandon McManus kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:38 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 31, Jared Goff’s unit was called upon to lead a winning drive. The Lions entered enemy territory after just two plays, but faced an interesting call with a fourth-and-1 at the Packers’ 21-yard line.
With 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Dan Campbell was not ready to kick the field goal that would put Detroit up three points. He didn’t want to give Jordan Love about 40 seconds to move down the field, so he tried to do it.
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called David Montgomery for a handoff, but one of Goff’s offensive linemen stepped on him after snapping the ball. Despite stumbling to the ground, the Lions quarterback found a way to get the ball to Montgomery, who crossed the uprights for the crucial first down.
Look what happened:
Later, Campbell explained his risky decision:
“I just felt like we needed to finish the offense. I didn’t want to give that ball back,” Campbell said, via WXYZ Detroit.
Campbell is known as one of the most aggressive head coaches in the NFL. In fact, he attempted to convert FIVE fourth downs Thursday night, converting four of them.
After Detroit ran more time off the clock following the successful conversion, Jake Bates came in and kicked the winning 35-yard field goal as time expired. With this win, the 12-1 Lions have officially clinched a playoff spot.
