Jake Bates hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to help the Detroit Lions beat the Houston Texans 26-23 for their seventh straight win.
The Lions scored the final 19 points of the game after having trailed 23-7 at halftime. Detroit overcame a chaotic performance by quarterback Jared Goff, who threw five interceptions in the win. Goff is just the third quarterback since 1990 to win a game while throwing five interceptions.
C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions of his own for the Texans, and he was also sacked four times.
Goff was picked off on the Lions’ first drive, and Houston responded by scoring a touchdown eight plays later. After a Detroit three-and-out, the Texans added to their lead with a field goal.
The Lions briefly appeared to settle down offensively with an 11-play, 70-yard drive to cut the score to 10-7. But their final four drives of the first half were an interception, a three-and-out, a three-and-out and then one more interception on a Hail Mary attempt.
In that time, Houston added two more field goals and a touchdown. The Texans’ final touchdown was a 15-yard reception by John Metchie, his first career score.
The second half started with the quarterbacks trading interceptions. After a Houston punt, Detroit finally worked down the field for a touchdown to cut the score to 23-13. But then the game ground to a halt. The quarterbacks traded interceptions for a second time before the offenses combined for three straight punts.
The Lions finally restored order with a seven-play, 64-yard drive for a touchdown to make the score 23-20. After another seven-play drive by Detroit to tie the game, Houston had a chance to win late. Stroud led the Texans to the 40-yard line, but Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 58-yard field goal that would have given Houston the lead.
The Lions took advantage of the short field, setting up Bates’ game-winner in a few plays.
Detroit improved to 8-1, remaining in first place in the NFC. The Lions will return home to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11.
Houston fell to 6-4 with its third defeat in four games. The Texans play the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 18.
Jake Bates talks game-winning field goal
Final: Lions 26, Texans 23
Jake Bates hits a 52-yard field goal as time expires, and the Lions have overcome five interceptions by Jared Goff to win their sixth straight game.
What a chaotic game!
Texans miss field goal after no call on third down
Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a 58-yard field goal, and the Lions will have the ball on their own 48 with the game tied at 23.
Detroit looked to get away with a pass interference penalty on third down, but the no-call set up the field goal attempt for Houston.
There’s 1:51 left.
We have a tie game
Jake Bates hits a 58-yard field goal — the longest in Lions history — and we have a tie game in Houston.
After all the chaos, it’s 23-23 with 5:01 left in the fourth.
Texans punt after four plays
The Texans punt after four plays and now the Lions — who’ve thrown five interceptions tonight — will take over with a chance to tie or take the lead.
Detroit has the ball on its own 17 trailing 23-20.
Touchdown, Lions!
It’s only a one-score game after an Amon-Ra St. Brown nine-yard touchdown catch.
The Lions went 64 yards in seven plays, including an impressive 17-yard catch from Jameson Williams, who held on to the ball after taking a crushing hit.
The Texans’ lead has been cut to 23-20.
Lions take over one play into the fourth quarter
The Texans can’t complete a third down pass on the first play of the third quarter, and the Lions will take over on offense.
Detroit trails 23-13, but is somehow still in this game despite five interceptions from Jared Goff.
Lions punt after six plays
The Lions punted after a six-play, 39-yard drive.
Detroit ran on 3rd-and-7 to seemingly set up a fourth-down attempt, but a David Montgomery rush picked up only two yards, and the Lions decided to punt on 4th-and-5.
The Texans still lead 23-13.
We finally got a punt
Only one first down for the Texans on their latest drive, and they punted back to the Lions. Never has a punt been so refreshing!
Detroit will take over trailing 23-13.
You guessed it — another interception!
What was in the water in Houston today?
Jared Goff was just picked off the fifth time. Goff tried to find Jameson Williams running down the left sideline, instead he found a Texans defender for his fifth interception.
Houston leads 23-13.