Recap: Prater hits FG as time expires, Lions beat Cardinals 26-23

Nolan Bianchi

| The Detroit News

Game summary

The Detroit Lions took advantage of three interceptions by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday, as Matt Prater hit a 39-yard field goal with time expiring to give the Lions a 26-23 win, their first of the season.

Rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah, Duron Harmon and Jamie Collins each had an interception for the Lions (1-2). Kenny Golladay had seven targets, six receptions, 57 yards and a touchdown in his return from injury.

Final leaders

Passing

DET – Matthew Stafford: 22/31, 270 yds.

ARI – Kyler Murray: 22/35, 270 yds., 2 TD, 3 Int.

Rushing

DET – Adrian Peterson: 22 atts., 75 yds.

ARI – Kenyan Drake: 18 atts., 73 yds.

Receiving

DET – Kenny Golladay: 6 recs., 57 yds., TD

ARI – DeAndre Hopkins: 12 recs., 137 yds.,

Lions win 26-23 on Prater field goal as time expires

The Lions take over at the Arizona 9. There’s 4:49 on the clock in a 23-23 game.

Adrian Peterson rushes for 3 yards on first down, then catches a screen pass that’s good for 10 yards on the next play.

Matthew Stafford throws complete to Marvin Jones on the next play for a textbook 20-yard pickup, getting to the Detroit 42. Just under 3:00 to go here.

Peterson rushes for 5 yards on first down.

Stafford rolls left and throws deep to Marvin Hall, noted deep threat, for. a 52-yard gain. A marvelous throw, a marvelous catch. He’s down at the 1.

Then it’s called back for holding. It’ll be second-and-15 when we come back from the two-minute warning.

Two-minute warning

The Lions somewhat get it back on the next play. The Cardinals are flagged for defensive holding, giving the Lions 5 yards and an automatic first down.

It’s first-and-10 at midfield.

Peterson rushes for a yard on first down. Golladay catches a pass near the sideline and then goes out at the Arizona 38, an 11-yard gain that’ll move the sticks.

Peterson rushes for no gain on first down.

Timeout #2 Arizona (0:58 4th)

Stafford gets it out quickly to Marvin Jones. He makes a defender miss, cuts up the sideline, and gets to the Arizona 18 for a gain of 20 yards.

The Lions firmly in field-goal range. They let the clock run to 0:12 left, and call a timeout.

Timeout #1 Detroit (0:12 4th)

Stafford takes the next snap, moves to his let, takes a knee.

Timeout #2 Detroit (0:04 4th)

Matt Prater’s 39-yard field goal is good. For the first time in 12 tries, the Detroit Lions win the football game.

FINAL: Lions 26, Cardinals 20

Lions defense gets second straight stop, Detroit gets ball in tie game

Chase Edmonds returns the kickoff to the Arizona 23. We’re all tied up at 23 with 6:13 to go.

Kyler Murray throws complete to DeAndre Hopkins on first down, a 12-yard gain that’ll give the Cardinals a first down at the 35.

Kenyan Drake gets to the right edge and rushes for 14 yards on the next play.

Drake gets a yard up the middle on first-and-10 at the Cardinals 49. Murray’s second-down throw to KeeSean Johnson is broken up by Amani Oruwariye. Murray goes deep again to Johnson on third down, but the pass is off the mark and thrown into double coverage.

Andy Lee’s punt is downed at the Detroit 9.

Lions 23, Cardinals 23 (4:49 4th)

Lions tie Cardinals at 23 with 6:44 left in game

Jamal Agnew puts together a nice return for the Lions on the punt, returning it 16 yards to Arizona’s 36. The Lions are pretty close to field-goal range, if they aren’t already.

Adrian Peterson is dropped for a loss of 2 on first down. T.J. Hockenson hauls in a throw over the middle for an 8-yard gain, bringing up third-and-4. Stafford goes back to Hockenson on the next play, a 7-yard gain that’ll give Detroit a new set of downs at the Arizona 23.

Stafford throws complete to Jesse James on the next play, an 8-yard pickup. The Cardinals are flagged for having too many men on the field before second down, giving the Lions 5 free yards.

It’s first-and-goal at the 10.

Peterson rushes for 2 yards on first down. Stafford’s second-down throw to Hockenson on a fade is just beyond the receiver’s grasp. Stafford is sacked on third down, a 9-yard loss. That’s the fourth sack for the Cardinals today.

Matt Prater’s 35-yard field goal is good. The game is tied.

Lions 23, Cardinals 23

Lions defense gets big stand deep in Cardinals territory

Arizona takes over at their own 2 after the excellent punt by Jack Fox. The Cardinals lead 23-20 with 11:58 to go in the game.

Kenyan Drake rushes up the middle for 2 yards on first down. Amani Oruwariye breaks up a second-down throw to KeeSean Johnson, bringing up third-and-8.

Romeo Okwara nearly sacks Kyler Murray for a safety on third down, but Murray is able to get away and throw it out of bounds.

Cardinals 23, Lions 20

Penalties hamper Lions drive in opposing territory

The Lions take a penalty on the kickoff return by Jamal Agnew. The Lions will start at their own 10.

Adrian Peterson rushes for no gain on first down.

END 3RD: Cardinals 23, Lions 20

D’Andre Swift can’t turn around in time to haul in Matthew Stafford’s second-down throw, resulting an incompletion. Stafford steps up and rips a throw to Kenny Golladay on third-and-10 that’s caught for a 19-yard gain to the Detroit 29.

Stafford then goes to T.J. Hockenson on the next play, hitting the second-year tight end for a huge play. The 27-yard completion will give the Lions a new set of downs at the Cardinals 44.

Stafford gets sacked for a 10-yard loss on the next play. It’ll be second-and-20 at the Detroit 46. Jesse James is flagged for an illegal shift on the next play, but it’s an incomplete pass to Hockenson, so the penalty will be declined. It’s third-and-20.

Kerryon Johnson catches a pass out of the backfield, a 14-yard gain, on third down.

The Lions try to get Arizona to drop offsides, but instead will run out the clock to give Jack Fox more room to work.

Jack Fox’s punt is downed at the 2. Just another monster from the Lions punter.

Cardinals 23, Lions 20 (11:48 4th)

Cardinals take 23-20 lead near end of third quarter

The Cardinals will get it at the 25 after a touchback.

Kenyan Drake rushes for 4 yards on first down. DeAndre Hopkins hauls in a quick pass and runs for 15 yards on first down, then gets it again on the very next play for a 12-yard gain. The Cardinals have a first down at the 44.

Duron Harmon jumps Larry Fitzgerald route and nearly gives the Lions their fourth interception of the ballgame. Harmon for sure wishes he had that one back, but nonetheless, a great defensive play.

Murray scrambles for 5 yards on second down.

Injury alert: Lions CB Jeff Okudah was injured on the play. He is crouched on the sideline while being attended to by the training staff.

Second-year corrnerback out of Nebraska Chris Jones is in for Okudah.

Murray keeps on third-and-5, makes a couple men miss, and gets to the Detroit 26 for a pickup of 13, the longest run of the day for Murray.

Hopkins catches a pass in the flat on the next play, again makes a few men miss, and picks up 11 yards to make it first-and-10 at the Lions 15.

Drake loses a yard on first down. Hopkins gets open over the middle on second down and hauls in a 10-yard reception that’ll bring up third-and-1. Drake moves the chains with a 4-yard gain.

The Cardinals have a new set of downs at the 2-yard-line. Okudah back in the game for Detroit.

Andy Isabella beats Darrell Roberts in the flat and gets to the end zone for a Cardinals touchdown.

Cardinals 23, Lions 20 (0:35 3rd)

Lions take 20-16 lead after Okudah’s first career interception

The Lions take over at the Cardinals 22 after Jeff Okudah’s interception.

Kerryon Johnson gets Detroit to the 6 after three carries for for 16 yards, bringing up second-and-goal.

Matthew Stafford overthrows Jesse James and Danny Amendola in the end zone. Detroit will settle for a field goal.

Matt Prater’s chip shot is good.

Lions 20, Cardinals 16 (5:27 3rd)

Okudah intercepts Murray for first of his career

The Cardinals take over at the 14. Kyler Murray is back in the game.

Kyler Murray and Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury appeared to be at odds after the previous series, which would indicate that the reason he was subbed out on fourth down was not injury-related.

Murray passes to Kenyan Drake for a 6-yard gain on first down. Drake then rushes for 15 yards to the Arizona 35 for a first down.

Murray’s first-down pass to DeAndre Hopkins is knocked away.

Jeff Okudah is flagged for defensive holding on the next play, giving the Cardinals a first down at the 40.

Murray is sacked for a loss of 2 by Romeo Okwara on first down. Murray’s second-down throw to KeeSean Johnson is too close to the sideline and falls incomplete.

He rolls out of a closing pocket on third down, throws to Hopkins, and it’s intercepted by the rookie Okudah. He undercut the route and ran all the way to Arizona’s 22-yard-line, a 36-yard return.

Lions 17, Cardinals 16 (7:36 3rd)

Lions offense falters to start third quarter

The Lions take over at their own 25 after the field goal.

Adrian Peterson is stopped for no gain on first down. Kenny Golladay hauls in a 1-yard reception on second down. A third-down throw to Danny Amendola is tipped over the middle of the field, and falls incomplete.

Jack Fox’s punt bounces to the Arizona 14. The Lions’ MVP strikes again.

Lions 17, Cardinals 16 (9:42 3rd)

Cardinals march down field to start half, Lions force field goal

The Cardinals will get the ball to start the third quarter. Chase Edmonds returns the kickoff to Arizona’s 25.

Kyler Murray hits Darrell Daniels for a 9-yard gain on first down. Kenyan Drake gets 5 yards up the gut on second down to give Arizona a new set of downs at the 39.

Murray finds DeAndre Hopkins near the left sideline, he makes Jeff Okudah miss, and Arizona gets to the Detroit 40 for a gain of 21 yards.

Drake rushes for 1 yard on first down. Okudah chases down Andy Isabella on a misdirection play, wrapping up the Cardinals receiver for a loss of 6 yards. KeeSean Johnson hauls in a 14-yard reception on third down, bringing up fourth-and-1.

Timeout #1 Arizona (11:24 3rd)

The Cardinals bring out the backup quarterback for fourth down, for some reason. The Cardinals are then flagged for a false start.

They trot out Zane Gonzalez, who hits a 54-yard field goal.

Lions 17, Cardinals 16 (11:19 3rd)

First-half leaders

Passing

DET – Matthew Stafford: 11/14, 125 yds., 2 TD

ARI – Kyler Murray: 13/17, 156 yds., 1 TD, 2 Int.

Rushing

DET – Adrian Peterson: 14 atts., 66 yds.

ARI – Kenyan Drake: 9 atts., 30 yds.

Receiving

DET – Kenny Golladay: 3 recs., 26 yds., TD

ARI – DeAndre Hopkins: 4 recs., 56 yds.

Lions regain lead before half on Golladay’s first TD of season

The Lions start at the 25, looking to regain their lead before halftime.

Matthew Stafford throws to Jamal Agnew on a crossing route, good for a 20-yard completion.

Peterson is stopped for no gain on first-and-10 at the 45. Stafford hits T.J. Hockenson on second down for a gain of 11, moving the Lions into Cardinals territory at the 44.

Stafford hits Golladay for a 10-yard completion on the next play. It’ll be first-and-10 at the 34.

Timeout #1 Detroit (0:41 2nd)

Stafford kicks it to D’Andre Swift on a swing screen, and the rookie back rushes all the way to Arizona’s 15-yard-line for a 19-yard gain.

Timeout #2 Detroit (0:35 2nd)

Stafford’s throw on the next play is caught by Kenny Golladay for a Lions touchdown. That’s an extremely athletic grab by the Lions’ top target.

The play is being reviewed, as Golladay didn’t survive the ground. He did have possession before reaching across the goal line, so this one could go either way, by NFL standards.

The play stands.

Lions 17, Cardinals 13 0:31 2nd)

Arizona gets it at the 21 after an 18-yard return by Chase Edmonds. There’s 0:26 on the clock and Arizona has three timeouts remaining.

Kyler Murray throws to KeeSean Johnson for a 10-yard gain on first down.

Timeout #1 Arizona (0:21 2nd)

An intentional grounding call will pretty much end the half.

END 2ND: Lions 17, Cardinals 13

Arizona takes 13-10 lead in final two minutes of first half

Arizona takes over at the 26.

Kyler Murray hits DeAndre Hopkins on first down for a gain of 18 yards. The Cardinals hurry to the line, and Murray hits Hopkins again with Jeff Okudah in coverage.

Kenyan Drake rushes for no gain on first down. He hits Dan Arnold on second down for a gain of 11 that’ll give the Cardinals a first down at the Detroit 34.

Drake rushes for 11 more on the next play.

Murray rushes for 3 yards on first down, then hands it to Chase Edmonds for a gain of 4 on second down. Edmonds catches a pass over the middle on third down, catches a pass from Murray, and gets all the way to the Detroit 1-yard-line for a gain of 15.

Two-minute warning

Murray fakes the handoff, rolls left, puts Okudah in a blender, and gets in the end zone for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Zane Gonzalez misses the extra point.

Cardinals 13, Lions 10 (1:53 2nd)

Lions take 10-7 lead on James’ first touchdown of season

Detroit takes over at the Arizona 27 after Jamie Collins’ interception.

Adrian Peterson rushes for 5 yards on first down and picks up 8 yards on second down. It’ll be first down at the 14.

Peterson is stopped for no gain on first down, but get 8 yards on the next play. Kenny Golladay catches a 1-yard pass on third down, which isn’t enough to keep the chains moving. The Lions will go for it.

Jesse James gets open for a fourth-down completion, putting the Lions up by a few.

Lions 10, Cardinals 7 (6:15 2nd)

Lions linebacker Jamie Collins nabs Detroit’s second interception

The Cardinals take over at their own 10 after a booming punt by Jack Fox.

Kenyan Drake rushes for 8 yards on first down, and gets another on second down. It’s third-and-1. Drake moves the sticks with a 1-yard carry.

Kyler Murray throws an awful pass on first down, and it’s picked off by Jamie Collins. That’s two turnovers for your Detroit Lions in the first half of this football game.

The Lions will have it at the 26.

Injury alert: Lions DE Trey Flowers was hurt on the play.

Cardinals 7, Lions 3 (9:37 2nd)

Stafford sacked on third down by Devon Kennard

Jamal Agnew returns the kickoff to Detroit’s 23.

Adrian Peterson rushes for 8 yards on first down, bringing the first quarter to a close.

END 1ST: Cardinals 7, Lions 3

Peterson rushes for 1 yard on second down. Jesse James (!) catches a third-down pass that’s good for 15 yards and a first down at the Detroit 47.

Peterson rushes up the middle for 3 yards on first down. Stafford’s throw to Jamal Agnew is caught, but for no gain. T.J. Hockenson is flagged for a false start, making it third-and-12.

And Stafford is sacked by Devon Kennard, former Lion.

Cardinals 7, Lions 3 (11:18 2nd)

Cardinals take 7-3 lead late in first quarter

The Cardinals take over at their own 20.

Kenyan Drake rushes for 5 yards on first down. Chase Edmonds catches a 6-yard pass on second down to move the sticks.

Andy Isabella beats the busted coverage by Jeff Okudah on the next play, and Kyler Murray finds him for a 26-yard completion.

Murray goes back to Isabella on the next play, a gain of 4. Murray picks up the first down with a 7-yard scramble. It’s first-and-10 at the 32 of Detroit.

Up-tempo offense continues to kill the Lions, as Murray hits Darrell Daniels for a 15-yard completion to the 17.

Drake is tackled for a 1-yard gain on first down. A second-down pass to Larry Fitzgerald results in a pass interference penalty on Detroit’s Darryl Roberts. It’s first-and-goal at the 10.

Okudah makes a great play to tackle DeAndre Hopkins in the open field on first down, forcing a 3-yard loss. Good bounce-back play from the third-overall pick.

Murray drops a dime into the arms of Isabella on a post route to the corner, and the Cardinals have their first lead of the ballgame.

Cardinals 7, Lions 3 (0:14 1st)

Lions go three-and-out after Harmon interception

The Lions get it at their own 32 after the interception by Duron Harmon.

Matthew Stafford goes up to Kenny Golladay down the left sideline on first down, an incompletion. Adrian Peterson is dropped for a loss of 2 on second down. Cardinals defensive lineman Chandler Jones jumps early on third down, so Stafford airs it out, another incompletion. But the Lions will have 5 extra yards, bringing up third-and-7.

Stafford’s throw for Danny Amendola on third down is incomplete.

Jack Fox’s punt is downed at the 2-yard-line of Arizona, but the Lions player who downed it was the first to touch it after running into the end zone. It’s ruled that he did not reestablish himself, which probably should have been challenged, but was not. The Cardinals get it at the 20.

Lions 3, Cardinals 0 (4:18 1st)

Duron Harmon gives Lions first takeaway of season

Chase Edmonds returns Matt Prater’s kick to the Arizona 28, where Kyler Murray and Co. will take over with a 3-0 deficit.

Edmonds runs up the middle for 5 yards on first down and gets 4 more up the gut on second down. It’s third-and-1. Darryl Roberts makes a great hit on Larry Fitzgerald on a pass at the line of scrimmage to force no gain.

The Cardinals rush to the line, give it to Kenyan Drake, and pick up the first down with a 3-yard gain on fourth-and-1 from the 37.

Murray throws deep to DeAndre Hopkins, who comes down with an easy 30-yard reception over rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah. Arizona has a first down at the Detroit 30.

Drake is stopped on first down for no gain. Murray’s second-down pass to KeeSean Johnson is incomplete. Duron Harmon intercepts a tipped ball from Murray on third down and the Lions have their first takeaway of the season.

Lions 3, Cardinals 0 (5:28 1st)

Prater gives Lions 3-0 lead after offense stalls in red zone

Arizona’s opening kickoff goes for a touchback. Detroit will get it at the 25.

Danny Amendola catches a pass in the flat on the first play of the game, and the Lions have a first down at the 43 on an 18-yard reception.

Adrian Peterson throws a nasty move on two defenders just beyond the rushing lane, spins, and rumbles, fumbles, stumbles all the way to Arizona’s 30-yard-line. That’s a gain of 27, and will give the Lions a first down in Cardinals territory.

Peterson gets it again on the next carry, this time going down for a gain of 2. He gets it again on second down and gets tackled by former Lion Devon Kennard after a gain of 2 more. Taylor Decker gets flagged for a false start. It’s now third-and-11.

Chris Banjo picks off Matthew Stafford on third down, but a defensive holding penalty will save the Lions. It’s now first-and-10 at the 26.

Hockenson can’t hold onto a throw from Stafford while going to the ground on first down. Jamal Agnew gets the end-around on second down and gets tackled for a gain of 2. It’s third-and-8: Stafford finds Marvin Jones with the pocket closing around him, an 11-yard gain that’ll give Detroit a new set of downs at the Arizona 13.

Peterson gets 1 yard on first down and 3 more on second down, bringing up third-and-6. Stafford gets sacked for a loss of 10.

Matt Prater’s 37-yard field goal is good.

Lions 3, Cardinals 0 (8:27 1st)

Pregame

The Lions are in Arizona on Sunday seeking their first victory of the season. Follow the action here with live updates throughout the game by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.