Nov. 11 (UPI) — A struggling Detroit Lions offense awoke late, scoring 19-unanswered points to rally past the Houston Texans and improve to 8-1 this season. The Lions overcame a career-high five interceptions by Jared Goff threw.
“To win a game where your offense has five turnovers doesn’t happen very often,” Goff told reporters after the 26-23 victory Sunday night in Houston. “That’s a credit to them and credit to our whole team’s resiliency.
“At some point, every team gets punched in the mouth. The good ones respond.”
The Lions trailed by 16 points at halftime, but outscored the Texans 19-0 in the second half. Kicker Jake Bates made a 58-yard game-tying field goal with 5:01 remaining. He then split the uprights with a 52-yard attempt as time expired to complete the comeback victory.
JAKE. BATES. CALLED. GAME. #DETvsHOU | NBC pic.twitter.com/fSa4NBaZsP— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024
Goff completed just 15 of 30 passes. He threw two passing scores in addition to his five interceptions. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 19 of 33 passes for 232 yards, a score and two interceptions.
“We had to fight our way back in there, but I’m proud of the guys,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Obviously, there are things we gotta clean up, but man our guys wouldn’t go away.”
Texans safety Jimmie Ward intercepted Goff off a deflection on the first drive of the game. Running back Joe Mixon scored on an 8-yard run on the resulting drive for a 7-0 Texans lead. Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made a 34-yard kick with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter to push the advantage to 10 points.
Goff cut into the deficit with a 20-yard touchdown toss to tight end Sam LaPorta about four minutes into the second quarter.
Defense bringing the on third down#DETvsHOU | NBC pic.twitter.com/htx4hwGXnh— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024
Fairbairn made a 56-yard field goal on the next possession.
Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o caught Goff’s second interception of the night — on another deflection — less than a minute later. That turnover led to another Fairbairn field goal and pushed the Texans lead to 16-7.
Stroud threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Metchie in the final second of the first half, but the Texans never scored again.
Cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who intercepted Goff’s final pass attempt of the first half, picked off the Lions quarterback for a second time less than two minutes into the third quarter, but the Lions defense quickly forced a punt.
A 37-yard pass from Goff to LaPorta followed, setting up the Lions deep in Texans territory. Veteran running back David Montgomery ran for a 3-yard score on the next play, cutting the deficit to 10 points.
Lions cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted Stroud for a second time about 2:30 later, but Goff proceeded to throw his fifth and final interception on the next drive. Texans safety Calen Bullock snatched that deep ball intended for Jameson Williams.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is in the end zone for the 7th game in a row❗️#DETvsHOU | NBC pic.twitter.com/QtQzmSDDRw— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024
The Lions quarterback rebounded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive in the fourth quarter. He ended that possession with a 9-yard touchdown pass to star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Lions defense then forced a Texans punt. Bates made his game-tying field goal about three minutes later. Fairbairn went wide left on a go-ahead 58-yard attempt with less than two minutes remaining.
Goff and the Lions used the next five plays to march to the Texans’ 34-yard line, setting up Bates’ game-winning boot.
Linebacker James Houston and defensive linemen Pat O’Connor, Josh Paschal and Alim McNeil each registered sacks for the Lions. The Lions offensive line did not allow a sack on Goff and helped the quarterback and his cast of playmakers out-gain the Texans 345-248 in total yards.
The Lions will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Detroit. The Texans (6-4) will face the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) on Nov. 18 in Arlington, Texas.
