SUMMARY
Jared Goff and CJ Stroud combined for no less than seven interceptions Sunday night, in a game that ended with the Detroit Lions winning 26-23 against the Houston Texans.
A 52-yard field goal by Jake Bates on the final play of the game allowed the Lions to complete a comeback after trailing by 16 points midway through the game.
Detroit scored 19 points in the last two quarters, everything silenced its opponents.
Goff hadn’t had an interception in each of his last five games, but his streak ended in stunning fashion with no fewer than five interceptions against the Texans. Goff finished his game with 15 completions for 240 yards and two touchdown passes.
Goff became the third quarterback in the last 30 years to win a game while throwing at least five interceptions, joining Matt Ryan (2012) and Tony Romo (2007).
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and David Montgomery scored touchdowns for the Lions.
Stroud also had some trouble with two interceptions, but his 19 completed passes allowed him to amass 232 yards. He connected with Canadian receiver John Metchie III for his only touchdown pass of the game.
Metchie, who had put his career on temporary hiatus due to a form of leukemia, scored the first touchdown of his career on this sequence. He had a strong game with five receptions for 74 yards, both personal highs in the NFL.
Despite a lackluster game, Joe Mixon reached the end zone for a touchdown on the ground. With 46 yards rushing, it is only the second time in seven games this season that he has not reached the 100 yard mark on the ground.
With this win, the Lions are now 8-1 and have won their last seven games.
The Lions turn the tide
Goff’s streak of consecutive games without an interception abruptly ended in the first offensive sequence of the game. As Goff tried to reach Jahmyr Gibbs, Texans safety Jalen Pitre barely touched the ball, which went high. A superb dive from Jimmie Ward allowed him to intercept the ball to give Houston possession.
Stroud and his men quickly got to work and an eight-yard run from Mixon allowed the Texans to get on the scoreboard quickly.
Trailing by 10 points in the second quarter, the Lions’ attack finally showed signs of life. Goff found his bearings and joined LaPorta on 20 yards to allow Detroit to reduce the gap.
The Texans, however, finished the half strong, first by adding six points to the board thanks to two field goals. Then with seconds left in the second quarter, Stroud connected with Metchie for a 15-yard touchdown run that increased Houston’s lead to 16 points.
Metchie was at the heart of this offensive sequence since he had caught a 25-yard pass a few moments earlier.
Detroit was the only team to score in the third quarter. Goff first put the Lions in good position with a 37-yard pass to LaPorta, then Montgomery made it 23-13 with a three-yard run.
Goff revived the Lions’ hopes early in the fourth quarter when a nine-yard pass carried St. Brown into the end zone to bring Detroit within three points of their rivals. Detroit tied the game moments later.
The Texans had an opportunity to take a chance on the game with less than two minutes remaining when Ka’imi Fairbairn attempted a 58-yard field goal. The ball, however, missed the target on the left.
Goff brought his team to the Houston 34-yard line on the last sequence of the game and Bates played the hero with a 52-yard field goal.
