In an NFL Sunday Night Football showdown that seemed to favor the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff turned a challenging night into an unforgettable victory. Despite throwing a career-high five interceptions through three quarters, Goff led the Lions to a thrilling 26-23 comeback win, capped by kicker Jake Bates’ 52-yard field goal as time expired. This win marks Detroit’s seventh straight victory, lifting them to an impressive 8-1 record for the first time since 1954.
The Lions’ road to victory was anything but smooth. By halftime, Detroit found itself trailing 23-7 after a tough first half for Goff, who had already thrown three interceptions. The Lions offense struggled to keep pace, while the Texans, led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, capitalized on Detroit’s mistakes. Stroud connected on a touchdown and finished the night with 232 passing yards, and Houston’s defense held Goff to one of his roughest stretches in recent memory.
Detroit’s hopes appeared dim as Goff threw two more interceptions in the third quarter, bringing his total to five—the most by an NFL player since Jameis Winston’s five-interception game for Tampa Bay in 2019. Yet, even with the mistakes, Goff and the Lions refused to surrender.
The comeback began with Goff finding a rhythm late in the third quarter, connecting with his receivers for two touchdowns while Jahmyr Gibbs added 71 yards on the ground to keep the Lions’ offense balanced. Detroit’s defense, meanwhile, stiffened against the Texans in the second half, forcing two interceptions off Stroud that shifted momentum to the Lions.
Trailing by just 10 points going into the fourth quarter, Detroit’s offense stayed resilient. Goff led a scoring drive that was capped by a 58-yard field goal from Bates, cutting the lead to 23-20 with around five minutes remaining. After Detroit’s defense forced a stop, Bates came through again, tying the game with his second long-range field goal.
With under two minutes left, Houston had a chance to take back the lead, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. Detroit quickly seized the opportunity, marching downfield to set up Bates for a final attempt. As time expired, Bates drilled the 52-yarder, sealing Detroit’s remarkable comeback.
Goff finished with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns, proving his resilience despite the five interceptions. His ability to shake off the turnovers and lead the Lions to victory was a testament to his experience and poise under pressure.
For the Texans, it was a disappointing finish to a game that looked in their control for much of the night. C.J. Stroud’s 232 passing yards and touchdown were overshadowed by two critical interceptions in the second half. The Texans, now 6-4, have lost three of their last four games, as they look to rebound in a tight AFC playoff race.
As the Lions celebrate their first 8-1 start in 70 years, the win highlights the team’s grit and ability to pull off remarkable victories even under difficult circumstances.
