There isn’t a situation in which Dan Campbell won’t go for it on fourth down. We found that out on Thursday night.
The Detroit Lions failed on a fourth down from their own 31 earlier in the second half against the Green Bay Packers, and had what seemed like an obvious decision to kick a field goal with 43 seconds left in a tie game. But it wasn’t obvious. The Lions went for it, and even with Jared Goff falling down while taking the snap, he handed to David Montgomery for a 7-yard gain and a first down.
That meant Jordan Love and the Packers wouldn’t have the chance to answer a field goal.
The Lions won 34-31 on a field goal as time expired and clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season. The Packers (9-4) were a tough opponent, but the Lions (12-1) found a way to get the win.
"I just felt like we needed to end it on offense," Campbell told reporters postgame. "I did not want to give that ball back and I believe we could get that [first down]."
The Lions were tied 31-31 with just a few minutes left and a depleted defense that was having a hard time getting a stop. And Detroit did what a championship team should do: It made all the plays it had to and got a much-needed win. It was a game of the year candidate, with each team taking turns making huge plays. The Lions just made a few more plays when it had to. Goff shook off a bad interception, which has been rare for him this season, to make some big plays in the second half, including several on a game-winning drive in the final minutes.
And then Campbell’s decision helped put the game away. There might be a time in the playoffs in which his aggressiveness backfires, like last season’s NFC championship game, but it is also a big reason Detroit is 12-1 this season and have won a franchise-record 11 straight games.
Lions' defense brings pressure early
The Lions had plenty of defensive injuries coming into the game. They compensated for that by sending a lot of extra pressure at Love.
The Lions led 10-0 a couple minutes into the second quarter, and the Packers had just 37 yards and one first down. Whenever Love dropped back, the Lions would send extra blitzers. Love was sacked on Green Bay’s first offensive play by Za’Darius Smith, and that set an early tone for a shorthanded defense.
The Packers’ counterpunch was to run the ball. They kept it mostly on the ground for a drive after falling behind 10-0, had their first sustained drive of the night and a Lions penalty in the end zone set up a Josh Jacobs 1-yard touchdown.
The Lions had a drive that took the clock down to the final seconds before halftime, and they faced a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Just like he did at the end of the game, Campbell went for it. He passed on a field goal, and Jahmyr Gibbs caught a 2-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the half. That was a huge play and a big drive because Detroit scored without giving Green Bay a shot to answer before halftime.
The Lions' defense had played well. Love had just three completions for 31 yards at the half. It didn’t seem like the offense had been great, but it did enough for a 17-7 halftime lead.
Packers take a 4th quarter lead
The Packers grabbed a lead in the fourth quarter thanks to a Goff interception and a failed fourth-down gamble. Goff’s interception to Keisean Nixon set up the Packers at the Lions’ 16-yard line, and Jacobs scored a few plays later to give Green Bay a 21-17 lead.
The Lions were good on fourth downs but it takes just one failure to make all of the gambles look bad. The Lions went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 31-yard line late in the third quarter. That shouldn’t have been a huge surprise. Campbell loves being aggressive. The Lions had gone for it three times on fourth down already and picked up all three. This one didn’t work, with the Lions pitching it to Gibbs and the Packers getting upfield to stop him well short of the first down. In a game the Lions led 24-21, that stop in Detroit territory was huge. Jacobs got his third touchdown of the game after that and the Packers had the lead back.
The Lions were undaunted. Patrick scored again with 8:39 left and the Lions took back a 31-28 lead. Love came right back, avoiding what looked like a sure sack from blitzing linebacker Jack Campbell to hit Watson for a 29-yard gain, then hitting Dontayvion Wicks for 26 more. An offensive pass interference call took a touchdown catch by Jacobs off the board, and the Packers settled for a field goal and a tie with 3:38 remaining.
Goff went to work. He hit Jameson Williams for 19 yards to start the drive. Gibbs picked up a first down on a screen pass on third-and-7. A holding call set the Lions back, but Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle for a huge 16-yard gain on second-and-17. The Lions didn’t pick up a third-and-1 run but they were back in field-goal range. Then came Campbell’s decision, a big first down and the game-winning field goal.
The Lions keep their fans on the edge of their seats. Campbell wouldn’t have it any other way.
The current top team in the NFL took some big punches in the second half, but responded with a fearlessness that has become their trademark. They risked overtime just to squeeze the last remaining life out of the Packers, and now they're 12-1.
What a Thursday game.
Jack Baer
WOW. Jared Goff appeared to stumble while going for the hand-off, but he still got the ball to David Montgomery, who burst through for the first down. Replay shows Goff got his foot stepped on.
Lions can now run the clock out and kick a chip-shot field goal, because Dan Campbell has no fear.
David Montgromery is stopped well short and the Packers should get the ball back with around 40 second left, down by three. Unless the Lions want to do something wild.
Jack Baer
The Lions appeared to get the first down they needed when an unpressured Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the ruling is reversed. It'll instead be 3rd-and-1 from the Green Bay 21 with 1:27 left.
The Packers have no timeouts left, so they need a stop to have a chance here.
Jack Baer
The outcome of this game between the Lions and Packers will snap a combined 18-game winning streak shared between Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota. The NFC North is an absolute gauntlet outside of Chicago.
There’s nothing the Packers can do to defend the Lions’ screen game. They’ve been getting gashed all night and now they just surrendered seven yards on third-and-7 for a first down that’ll probably wind up icing the game.
We've hit the two-minute warning, and the Packers aren't in a good position. The Lions have 1st-and-10 on the Green Bay 30, so they can basically end this thing with one more first down and a field goal. Packers have two timeouts.
Jordan Love scrambled on third down and was quickly stopped, so the Packers settle for a 32-yard field goal to tie the game. Lions will take over with 3:38 left.
Jack Baer
#Lions DB Brian Branch is questionable to return due to cramping.
Jordan Love appeared to find Josh Jacobs in the end zone to take back the lead, but multiple flags fly as Christian Watson gets called for OPI. Packers now have 2nd-and-goal from the 16.
Jack Baer
Wicks comes through again but is blasted by David Long, who probably should have been flagged for the tackle.
TOUCHDOWN: Lions respond with another Tim Patrick touchdown
Tim Patrick scored his first touchdown since 2021 tonight, after missing back-to-back seasons with a torn ACL and Achilles. He just posted his second touchdown, and it was a big one.
The Lions made a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown look pretty effortless.
Now Javon Bullard is down on the field and being worked on by the Packers’ medical staff. They already lost their other rookie safety, Evan Williams, to a concussion earlier tonight.
TOUCHDOWN: Josh Jacobs punches in his 3rd TD to take the lead
Josh Jacobs punches it in — his third TD of the night — to finish off a four-play, 30-yard drive as the Lions' fourth-down decision officially blows up in their face. 14:20 left, Packers up by 4.
After allowing touchdowns on the first two drives of the second half, the Lions defense gets a big stop with a three-and-out. Detroit takes over at its own 22.
Ian Casselberry
TOUCHDOWN: Lions 24, Packers 21
Jahmyr Gibbs is held to one yard on 3rd-and-goal from the Green Bay 4-yard line.
Lions decide to go for it on 4th down and Jared Goff hits Tim Patrick for a 3-yard TD pass.
Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeil is out with a head injury. Not a concussion, Prime Video's Kaylee Hartung clarifies, but a head injury.
Ian Casselberry
Jordan Love gets his big play
Jordan Love finally breaks through, hitting Christian Watson for a 59-yard gain down the right sideline. First down for Green Bay at the Lions' 12-yard line.
Jordan Love pressured on 6 of 10 dropbacks in 1st half
Rough first half for Jordan Love, due in part to the Lions getting pressure on him.
Also, Love was pressured on 6 of 10 dropbacks in the first half. The 60% pressure rate is the highest faced in a first half of his career as well. He was just 1-3 for 20 yards with a sack and a scramble for 8 yards under duress. https://t.co/9HdqKWqdpn
Going for it on 4th down pays off for the Lions. Jared Goff hits Jahmyr Gibbs on an angle route for a 2-yard score with 11 seconds remaining in the first half.
He has 3 receptions (on 6 targets) for 54 yards thus far.
Ian Casselberry
TOUCHDOWN: Lions 10, Packers 7
The Lions looked like they had an interception in the end zone from Carlton Davis. But Terrion Arnold was called for pass interference to negate the turnover.
Josh Jacobs follows that up with a 1-yard TD run to get the Packers on the board.
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Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros recap Real Madrid’s impressive performance against cross town rivals, Atletico Madrid, including Brahim Diaz’s incredible solo goal. Christian and Alexis then react to the other marquee Champions League games this week, including Alisson’s heroic effort in goal to give Liverpool an unlikely win over PSG. Later, Christian and Alexis break down a Marta award worth goal from Jacqui Ovalle in Liga MX Femenile.
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald dive deep on the defensive free agents in the NFL and talk about afew key prospects they've had their eyes on this week.
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College basketball players can make more than ever, especially stars like Cooper Flagg. But even he would be ill-advised to not turn pro after this season.
On this edition of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine take a look at every single front-runner for each of the NBA Awards: MVP, Most Improved Player, 6th Man of the Year, Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
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