It was one for the record books. Despite a handful of interceptions from the offense, the Detroit Lions clawed their way back and beat the Houston Texans in a comeback for the ages. How are you feeling after that victory?
The Detroit Lions should be nominated for an Outstanding Primetime Emmy because they sure know how to entertain under the spotlight.
With turnovers aplenty and their backs against the wall, the Lions pulled off the improbable comeback victory over the Houston Texans . For as much as the team struggled, they still continued to fight. The defense held firm and shut out the Texans down the stretch. The offense finally came alive and stopped the turnover-induced bleeding. Jake Bates had two of the most clutch kicks in Lions history to keep their win streak alive and maintain their firm grip on the NFC North.
Such a comeback warrants a wide array of reactions, from pure joy to bewilderment to awe. How were you feeling after Bates’ game-winner sailed through the uprights?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
What was your immediate reaction to the Detroit Lions’ comeback victory over the Houston Texans?
My answer: A mix of panic and giggles because I had to rewrite a chunk of my Takeaways article.
The Lions have had dominant wins this season—see the Dallas Cowboys or Tennessee Titans games this season. They have had statement wins—see their previous wins over the Green Bay Packers . They have had incredible comebacks—see the Chicago Bears game at home last season. Yet despite history both recent and distant, very few comeback wins feel like this one.
The sheer dismay that the Lions fandom was feeling was unprecedented under this era of Lions football. The Lions had been, by all counts, dominant in the weeks prior. While the Texans are a talented team, there was still some confidence for a prime time victory. Instead, it was Detroit stumbling out of the blocks.
Very rarely do quarterbacks throw five interceptions. Even more rarely do teams win despite five interceptions. In the early part of the second half, we hit rock bottom, and many, myself included, were preparing for next week’s tilt. The Lions defense had answered Dan Campbell’s pleas with a pair of interceptions, but both had gone to waste after subsequent Jared Goff interceptions. The Texans had thrown two interceptions, sure, but it was only a matter of time before their uncontested passing attack resumed control of the game. Yet that moment never arrived.
The greater the sorrow, the greater the comeback. Had the Lions gone back-and-forth with their opponent in an offensive shootout, a game-winning kick from Bates would have been fantastic, but it would not have had the dramatic effect that these two kicks had. Bates, a Houston native and two-week Houston Texan in 2023, nailing a 58-yard kick to tie and 52-yard kick to win against his former team is poetry in of itself. That circumstance, coupled with the five-interception performance from the Lions offense, made for an incredible comeback narrative. The team had every reason to lose this game, but Campbell’s team had every reason to win it as well.
This is one of those games that looks ugly in the grand scheme—a poor game from Goff, a modest rushing performance, substandard offensive line play—but in the moment, it feels phenomenal. At the end of the day, this is what these Detroit Lions are. They can play poorly for three quarters, but their offense and defense are talented enough to keep them in it. With a special teams cherry on top, that is how you get memorable moments like these.
That being said, I like blowout wins so I can write my takeaways earlier. C’mon, Lions.
Your turn.