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Detroit Lions, shorthanded and all, pull off huge divisional win over Packers, 34-31
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- Detroit Lions, shorthanded and all, pull off huge divisional win over Packers, 34-31
Nothing's too risky for Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell — not when you have the best team in the NFL.
Campbell passed on a chance to kick the game-winning field goal on fourth-and-1 with 43 seconds left, choosing instead to hand the ball to David Montgomery to try and seal the game without giving the Green Bay Packers a chance to tie.
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Graham Glasgow stepped on Jared Goff 's foot as took the snap, but Goff handed the ball to Montgomery, who ran for 7 yards and a first down.
Jake Bates kicked the game-winning 35-yard field goal two plays later as time expired and the Lions won their team-record 11th straight game, 34-31, to clinch a playoff spot for the second straight year.
JEFF SEIDEL: Gamblin' Dan Campbell makes this Detroit Lions playoff clincher one to remember
The Lions, 12-1 and playing with a slew of new faces on defense, have made the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since reaching the playoffs in three straight years from 1993-95.
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They host the Buffalo Bills next week in a battle of the Super Bowl favorites in both conferences.
On Thursday, Goff threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns — two to Tim Patrick — and the Lions won despite being without seven of their top eight defensive linemen and starting veterans Jamal Adams , Jonah Williams and Kwon Alexander , all of whom signed last week.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) makes a pass against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
The Packers (9-4) are in third place win the NFC North with four games to play.
Three more thoughts on the Lions-Packers game:
St. Patrick's day
MONARREZ'S TAKES: Lions' injury-riddled defense deserves credit for its performance against Packers
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What an addition Patrick has been for the Lions.
Patrick caught six passes for 43 yards and scored both his touchdowns on goal-to-go plays Thursday. He's been a steady No. 3 receiver this year and has answered the Lions' biggest question coming into the season — depth at wide receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams .
Patrick made several big catches, none bigger than his two scores. On his first, he showed incredible detail, selling a pick route from the right slot position, actually bumping Packers linebacker Eric Wilson before turning to catch an easy curl in the end zone. The Lions lined St. Brown up in the backfield on the fourth-and-goal play, and Patrick's fake pick helped suck two defenders towards the Lions' No. 1 receiver, leaving him open on the goal line.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) runs against Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (32) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.
PLAYOFFS! They're in! Detroit Lions lock up playoff spot with win over Green Bay Packers
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On his second score, Patrick got a clean inside release to beat Eric Stokes for a catch on third-and-goal from the 1.
Patrick, who picked up another first down on the Lions' game-winning drive, was a training-camp cut in August by the Denver Broncos , who were blessed with excellent depth at receiver. He missed the 2022-23 seasons with injuries and has been invaluable for the Lions this year.
Close call
I didn't like Campbell's decision to try and convert a fourth-and-1 at the Lions' 31-yard line late in Thursday's third quarter, and not just because the Lions failed on what was a poorly blocked run play.
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The decision to go for it in that situation was reminiscent of Campbell's decision to try a fake punt in a loss to the Packers at Ford Field last year. The Lions were stopped on that fake from their own 23-yard line and Green Bay scored a decisive touchdown four plays later in a 29-22 victory.
On Thursday, the Packers scored four plays after the failed fourth down pickup, a toss to Jahmyr Gibbs that never stood a chance after Penei Sewell missed a block and with poor communication on missed perimeter blocks by St. Brown and Brock Wright .
I love Campbell's willingness to go for it on fourth down. It's part of the reason the Lions believe they're so invincible.
But they're too good a team to need to gamble on extra possessions deep in their own territory.
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Take that
After two straight games without a takeaway, the Lions made creating turnovers a point of emphasis in practice this week and that decision paid off when Carlton Davis III knocked loose a fumble on the first play of the second quarter.
Davis got beat on a shallow crossing route and was chasing Christian Watson when he knocked the ball out of Watson's hands as Watson leaped for extra yards. David Long Jr. recovered and the Lions kicked a field goal six plays later to take an early 10-0 lead.
The Lions entered the game tied for sixth in the NFL with 19 takeaways, but were in a bit of a drought after forcing 12 turnovers in a four-game span in late September and early October. Five of those turnovers came in a win over the Dallas Cowboys , and four came two weeks later in a blowout of the Tennessee Titans .
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There aren't many stuggling teams like Tennessee or Dallas left on the schedule, but it's imperative the Lions get back to their playmaking ways on defense. They came out blazing hot with their pass rush Thursday, but their lack of depth showed as the game wore on. They had trouble getting off blocks at times up front and staying with receivers in the back end.
If they don't get any takeaways next week against the best team on their schedule, the Bills, the defense could be in for a long day.
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Post Local Bistro in Plymouth.
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Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions pull off huge divisional win over Packers, 34-31
