Lions edge Packers in seesaw thriller on last-second field goal

The Detroit Lions edged the Green Bay Packers on a last-second field goal

‘Cause I got to ramble (ramblin’ man)Oh I got to gamble (gamblin’ man)I got to ramble (ramblin’ man)Know I’m a ramblin’ gamblin’ manOh, oh, just a ramblerYeah, yeah, I’m just a gambler — Bob Seger

The great rock Hall of Famer Bob Seger has company in Motown as a gamblin’ man. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell kept taking chances and everything came up right in the end of a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at Ford Field.

Faced with a fourth-and-short in the final minute, rather than kicking the field goal and leaving Green Bay time to come back, Campbell kept his offense on the field.

A lineman stepped on Jared Goff who fell to the turf as he was handing off to David Montgomery. The running back took the football, gained the first down and Campbell’s plan had worked.

Jake Bates kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the 12-1 Lions had their 11th straight victory. The Packers fell to 9-4, three games back of Detroit in the NFC North with each team having four to play.

Goff threw for 283 yards and  three touchdowns, including two to Tim Patrick, who had not caught as scoreing pass since 2021 with Denver.

For Green Bay, Josh Jacobs ran for 66 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns.

The Lions led 17-7 at halftime but Green Bay scored two quick touchdown in the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead.

Starting with that touchdown, the NFC North rivals traded the last six scoring pl;ays of the game with Detroit coming up the winner thanks to Campbell’s gutsy call and Bates’ clutch kick.