Lions clinch playoff berth, defeating Packers 34-31 on second field goal

Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, Jake Bates made a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff berth with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

The NFC-best Lions (12-1) broke a franchise record with their 11th straight win – including two over the Packers (9-4) – to stay ahead of Minnesota (10-2) in the NFC North rivalry a lot.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth down five times, including a 1-yarder to the Green Bay 21 with 43 seconds left, and his punt backfired just once.

David Montgomery ran for 7 yards, slowly getting a handoff from Goff after the quarterback tripped and was falling on the sideline. That ensured the Lions could attempt a field goal without giving the Packers the ball back, and Bates hit his third game-winning field goal of the season.

Goff threw two fourth-and-goal touchdown passes, one to Tim Patrick, who had two TD catches. He also threw a touchdown in the third quarter to set up one of Josh Jacobs’ career-high three TD runs.

Goff found Jahymr Gibbs wide open in the end zone for a 2-yard pass on fourth down with 11 seconds left in the first half to put Detroit ahead 17-7.

Goff later connected with Patrick on a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter.

Green Bay used the only time Campbell’s anger didn’t come out, denying Gibbs on a fourth down run late in the third quarter from the Detroit 31.

Jacobs scored a third time on a 3-yard run on the ensuing drive.

Brandon McManus made a 32-yard field goal with 3:38 left to pull the Packers into a 31-all tie in a game that had four lead changes early in the second half.

The Lions’ final drive began with Goff’s 19-yard pass to Jameson Williams. He also connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown 16 yards to the end zone. Goff finished 32 of 41 for 283 yards, and six Lions players had at least five receptions.

Jordan Love was 12 of 20 for 206 yards with a touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft early in the third quarter.

Injury

Packers: S Evan Williams (hamstring), S Javon Bullard (ankle), DE Lukas Van Ness (thumb) were injured during the game.

Lions: DL Alim McNeill left with a head injury after being tested for a concussion and returned to play for a while.

Next

Packers: In the NFC West leading Seattle in Sunday night’s game on December 15.

Lions: Host AFC East-leading Buffalo on Dec. 15.

It is reported by the Associated Press.

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