Lions Fortify Lead on NFC Playoff Picture

Dan gambles, Ben Johnson confuses the defense, and the Lions win— is there anything new?

The Detroit Lions fended off the Green Bay Packers in a back-and-forth NFC North matchup. It all came down to Jake Bates, who kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired. This battle proved how hard the Lions will fight, how competitive the North is, and how strong the Lions are.

Goff fed Tim Patrick two touchdowns Thursday night. These were Patrick’s first scores as a Lion, and Jared Goff gave him something to remember.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1864875654862508186

What we learned

Lions’ 4th down efficiency

• (13:01 – 2nd) – 4th & 10 – Bates 43-yard field goal.
• (0:11 – 2nd) – 4th & Goal – Goff to Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown.
• (9:05 – 3rd) – 4th & 1 – Goff runs one yard to continue the touchdown drive
• (5:02 – 3rd) – 4th & Goal – Goff to Patrick for a touchdown
• (1:29 – 3rd) – 4th & 1 – Gibbs tackled for loss
• (0:43 – 4th) – 4th & 1 – Montgomery runs seven yards, sets up Jake Bates field goal

That’s right, the Lions were 5-for-6 on 4th down. The craze was all over social media after Montgomery’s final 4th & inches push. Why would Goff do it?

• It was a high reward, but was it high risk?
• Why would Campbell give the Packers back the ball if he knew he didn’t have to?

Ben Johnson knows everything.

Johnson uses his offense’s strengths and his knowledge of defenses to craft plays that get the ball down the field and into the endzone. This ability proves to be successful time after time.

Here, anybody would expect Montgomery to run this in. Instead, Tim Patrick is outside with one defender trailing behind him.

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1864880995217908175

Consider the Packers bamboozled. Gibbs (RB) is lined up on the line of scrimmage. St. Brown (WR) is lined up in the backfield. Keisean Nixon doesn’t know his job and is too busy orienting his defense to protect the endzone.

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1864873688769744956

Looking forward

With Thursday’s victory, the Lions clinched a consecutive playoff berth for the first time since 1993-95 and sit firmly atop the NFC playoff picture.

https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1865206596441366618

The Lions are hosting the Buffalo Bills in Week 15. Josh Allen and the Bills look impressive this season, especially after their snow game. This will be the Lions’ biggest non-division game this season, as it potentially previews the Super Bowl.

The game is on Dec. 15. at 4:25pm ET on CBS.