What. A. Game!
The Detroit Lions pulled off an amazing comeback, shocking the Texans in Houston with a 26-23 victory on Sunday Night Football. The Lions trailed almost the entire night and fell behind 23-7 at halftime thanks to some uninspired play and uncharacteristic mistakes from the Detroit offense.
And then it happened. The Lions defense kept making enough plays to give the offense a chance to grit it out, and that’s exactly what they did. Dan Campbell’s Lions gave the impressive number of Detroit fans in NRG Stadium something to remember, one of the greatest comebacks in team history.
Here’s what we know immediately after the game.
It was over when…
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 10: Jake Bates #39 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammates after kicking the winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
This one came down to the final play. Jake Bates nailed the 52-yard game-winner as time expired to lift the Lions to the improbable comeback victory.
The Lions defense getting stop after stop in the second half prevented the Texans from putting the game out of reach. Carlton Davis’ end-zone INT was the biggest turning point of the game.
Final stats and figures
3 stars of the game
1st star: Jake Bates – game-winning 52-yard field goal after tying it with a 56-yarder with five minutes to play
2nd star: Carlton Davis – 2 INTs and four tackles
3rd star: Alim McNeill – 5 tackles, one sack, two TFLs and several QB pressures on C.J. Stroud
Key points
–The opening drive ended with a tipped-ball INT, the first pick thrown by Goff since Week 3 in Arizona. His three first-half INTs were the first time in Goff’s career he’s thrown three INTs in a half (the third was a Hail Mary, but it still counts)
–Dan Skipper started at LT in place of Taylor Decker. When the Lions used an extra tackle, it was practice squad elevation Jamarco Jones.
–The Lions offense ended the first quarter with more penalties (2) than first downs (1)
–Detroit ran 13 times for 23 yards in the first half. On the flip side, Houston ran the ball 13 times for 4 yards.
–Amon-Ra St. Brown now has a touchdown reception in each of the last seven games, a Lions team record
–The Texans had negative net yardage in the red zone in the second half
–Jameson Williams made two outstanding catches that required incredible concentration, a nice return from his two-game suspension. He finished with three catches for 53 yards.
–Goff in the second half: 8-of-13, 149 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
–Sam LaPorta led the Lions in receiving with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. St. Brown has six receptions for 60 yards
–The Detroit defense registered four sacks and eight QB hits. Houston did not sack Jared Goff and hit him five times, per the initial postgame box score. One of Goff’s INTs was a strip-sack that got caught by the defense, however.
What’s next for the Lions?
Detroit heads to Jacksonville for a Sunday game in Week 11 with the 2-9 Jaguars, who currently would have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.