Lions Extend Win Streak, Clinch Playoff Berth in Thrilling Walk-Off Win Over Packers

The Detroit Lions continued their historic season on Thursday night, defeating the Green Bay Packers 34-31 in dramatic fashion on a walk-off 35-yard field goal by Jake Bates. The victory secured Detroit’s 12th win of the season, extending their franchise-record winning streak to 11 games and clinching a playoff berth for the second consecutive year—a feat the team hasn’t achieved since 1995.

With the game tied at 31 and just over three minutes remaining, the Lions embarked on a methodical drive down the field, burning the clock as they moved into field-goal range. Facing a critical fourth down deep in Packers territory with 40 seconds left, head coach Dan Campbell opted to go for it rather than settling for a field goal and risking giving Green Bay another chance.

“I did not want to give that ball back,” Campbell said after the game. “I trusted our offensive line, and I trusted this team to finish it. Everything in me said, ‘Let’s close this out on our terms.’”

The gamble paid off, even with a brief scare as quarterback Jared Goff stumbled on the handoff to running back David Montgomery. Montgomery powered through to pick up the first down, setting up Bates’ game-winning kick as time expired. It was the rookie kicker’s third walk-off field goal this season, further cementing his growing reputation as a Detroit sports hero.

Patrick’s Emotional Return Steals the Spotlight
The game was also a personal milestone for wide receiver Tim Patrick, who caught two touchdowns just two years after suffering an Achilles and ACL injury. His performance ended a 1,082-day drought without a touchdown.

“The journey was long, but it made me who I am today,” Patrick said postgame. “To contribute like this on Thursday Night Football, for this team, it’s a blessing. This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing football.”

Green Bay’s Second-Half Resurgence Falls Short
Despite falling behind 17-7 at halftime, the Packers clawed their way back into the game, led by a three-touchdown performance from running back Josh Jacobs. Quarterback Jordan Love finished with 206 passing yards and a touchdown, but the Packers’ defense couldn’t stop the Lions’ late-game heroics.

Green Bay, now 9-4, remains in playoff contention but will need to bounce back next week in a pivotal matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Lions Eye No. 1 Seed
With the NFC North title in hand, Detroit has its sights set on the conference’s top seed and a first-round bye. Next week, the Lions face a tough test against the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but our goals are bigger than this,” Campbell said. “We’ve talked about it since last year: We want to go all the way. This is just one step closer.”

For Lions fans, it’s a dream season in the making, as Detroit stands poised to rewrite its history with every passing week.