Lions use gutsy 4th-down call to finish off Packers in thrilling NFC North battle

Dan Campbell is going to almost always try to go for it on fourth down. That became evident Thursday night.

The Detroit Lions did not convert a fourth-down play from their own 31 earlier in the second half and made what appeared to be an obvious decision to attempt a field goal with 43 seconds left in a tied game. Still, it wasn’t.

Lions use gutsy 4th-down call to finish off Packers in thrilling NFC North battle

The Lions chose it, and even though Jared Goff fell down to take the snap, he threw the ball to David Montgomery for a 7-yard gain and first down.

It meant Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers would not get another chance to answer a field goal.

They won 34-31 with a field goal as time expired. This was a game against an incredibly strong opponent-the Packers-but the Lions just did enough to win.

Lions’ Bold Fourth-Down Gamble:

It came down to minutes, with the Lions trailing 31-31. Detroit’s defense just couldn’t stem it further, depleted as it was.

And being what a championship team is supposed to do; Detroit made the right moves in order to win a game that, by all appearances, determined the outcome of this contest once and for all.

It came down to the ultimate game, for both traded major league moves: Detroit simply made its on this day.

Goff shook off a terrible interception, something that has not been the norm for him this season, and made some key plays in the second half, including several on a game-winning drive in the final minutes.

Then Campbell’s judgment sealed the game. His aggressiveness could backfire in the playoffs, as it did last year in the NFC championship game, but it’s also a big reason why Detroit is 12-1 this season.

Turning Point: The Lions’ Offensive Brilliance

The Lions defense added pressure early.
The Lions had many defensive injuries coming into the game, but they made up for this by keeping much pressure on Love.

Just a few minutes into the second quarter, the Lions were leading 10-0, with the Packers with 37 yards and one first down. 

Implications for the NFC North Standings

If Love was falling back, then the Lions would send in extra blitzers. On Green Bay’s first play from scrimmage, Za’Darius Smith sacked Love to get the Lions’ short-handed defense off on the right foot.

The Packers’ counterattack was to run the ball. After going behind 10-0, they had their first continuous drive of the night, and a Lions penalty in the end zone set for a 1-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs.

The Lions’ drive brought the clock down to the last seconds before halftime, and they faced fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

Campbell went for it, just as he had done at the end of the game. He missed a field goal, and Jahmyr Gibbs grabbed a 2-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds remaining in the half.

That was a major play and a big drive, since Detroit scored without giving the Packers an opportunity to respond.

The Packers’ counterattack was to run the ball. They kept it primarily on the ground for a drive after falling behind 10-0.

Lions’ Road Ahead: Can They Sustain Momentum?

The Lions’ defense had done well. Love had just three completions for 31 yards at halftime. The attack did not appear to be particularly effective, but it was sufficient to secure a 17-7 halftime lead.

Packers take a 4th quarter lead
The Packers took a fourth-quarter lead when Jared Goff threw an interception and couldn’t convert on fourth down. Goff’s pick to Keisean Nixon gave the Packers the ball on the Lions’ 16-yard line, and Jacobs scored a few plays later to give Green Bay a 21-17 lead.

The Lions were solid on fourth downs, but it only takes one breakdown to make all of those 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 unfazed. Patrick scored again with 8:39 left, giving the Lions a 31-28 lead. Love came right back, escaping what appeared to be a definite sack by blitzing defender Jack Campbell to connect Watson for a 29-yard gain before hitting Dontayvion Wicks for 26 more.

An offensive pass interference ruling nullified Jacobs’ touchdown catch, and the Packers settled for a field goal and a tie with 3:38 remaining.

Goff went to work. He connected with Jameson Williams for 19 yards on the first play of the drive. Gibbs gained a first down on a third-and-seven screen pass.

A holding call was imposed, but Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle for a massive second-and-17, 16-yard gain. The Lions didn’t convert a third-and-one, but they were back in field goal range.

Then came Campbell’s decision, a crucial first down, and the game-winning field goal.

The Lions keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Campbell wouldn’t want it any other way.

David Montgromery is stopped well short, and the Packers should get the ball back with around 40 seconds remaining, behind by three. Unless the Lions want to go wild.

The Lions seemed to get the first down when an unpressured Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the call was overturned. It will be 3rd-and-1 from the Green Bay 21 with 1:27 left instead.

The Packers have no more timeouts, so they need a stop to have a shot here.