The Detroit Lions continue to prove they belong among the NFL's elite.
Riley Patterson hit a 40-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Lions a thrilling 41-38 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in one of the most entertaining games of the year. The Lions controlled most of the game, never trailing in the back-and-forth shootout, holding the ball in the final 3:34 to seal the victory.
Jared Goff connected with Sam LaPorta on fourth-and-2 with 1:47 left to set the Lions up for Patterson's heroics. The Lions were aggressive on fourth down throughout the game, converting 4 of 5 attempts -- including two fourth-and-goal conversions. Detroit racked up 533 yards of offense and averaged 8.3 yards per play in the win, improving to 7-2 for the first time since 2014.
Keenan Allen tied the game up at 38-38 on a 38-yard reception from Justin Herbert on fourth-and-1. Herbert used play-action, rolled to his right, and found a wide-open Allen who broke two tackles to score the tying touchdown. Allen finished with 175 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches, leaving the game in the second half with an injury only to return and score in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers put up 421 yards of offense and averaged 6.1 yards per play, as both teams combined for 954 yards of offense. Herbert threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns in the loss, his 25th 300-yard passing game in his first four seasons (Herbert is only 13-12 on those games).
Goff threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, with David Montgomery rushing for 116 and a score and Jahmyr Gibbs having 77 and two scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown had 156 receiving yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Here's a breakdown of the wild shootout in Los Angeles.
The Lions were nearly an unstoppable force on offense, scoring on six of eight possessions (not counting end of half) and racking up 533 yards and 8.3 yards per play. Detroit rushed for 200 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. The offensive line didn't allow a sack and just two quarterback hits, having Jared Goff get rid of the ball early and often.
Even though the Lions went 4 of 13 on third down and 2 of 4 in the red zone, they were 4 of 5 on fourth down. Dan Campbell was aggressive and trusted his offensive line to protect his quarterback in order for him to make a play. They deserved their 41 points Sunday.
The pass defense failed Los Angeles again, as the Chargers allowed 333 yards as Justin Herbert lost another game which he threw for 300-plus yards. Herbert was brilliant and Keenan Allen was even better, but this was another one-score game the Chargers lost. Look no further than the defense.
The defense allowed 8.3 yards per play and 6.5 yards per carry, failing to get a stop at any crucial point in the game (the Lions only punted once). They couldn't get off the field on fourth down either, allowing 4 of 5 conversions on fourth down. The Chargers defense just isn't playoff caliber, which is why Herbert loses a lot of one-score games.
Right after Keenan Allen scored to tie the game at 38-38, the Lions immediately went to work on trying to make sure the Chargers didn't get the ball back. On the first play of Detroit's ensuing possession, Jared Goff found Kalif Raymond for a 41-yard gain that took Detroit to the Los Angeles 34-yard line.
All of a sudden the Lions were in field goal range, allowing Dan Campbell to use a four-minute offense and run down the clock to win the game. All Detroit needed was a first down to get Patterson set up for the win with a few seconds left. The chess match came down to Campbell and he had his team execute on fourth down to set up Patterson.
That all started with the long completion to Raymond, who had two catches for 46 yards in the win.
Dan Campbell decided to go for it on fourth-and-2 with 1:47 left and the Lions on the Chargers' 26-yard line. Campbell could have had Riley Patterson kick the 44-yard field goal and take the lead, but the Chargers would have gotten the ball back (and they scored a touchdown on their last two possessions).
Campbell called a Goff throw and he found Sam LaPorta for 6 yards and the first down. The Lions forced the Chargers to burn their timeouts and kick the winner with no time left on the clock. The Lions went for it on fourth down five times on Sunday, but the fourth conversion was the biggest.
"Ballsy. ... I don't know if I can say that, but ballsy. And it paid off. We love when he (Dan Campbell) puts us in that positions to make those plays. He's got balls of steel and today he showed it." -- Jared Goff on Dan Campbell going for it five times on fourth down to CBS' Tracy Wolfson.
The Lions (7-2) will play host to the Bears while the Chargers (4-5) travel to Green Bay to face the Packers in Week 11.
Riley Patterson boots the 40-yard FG with no time left and Detroit wins a shootout in Los Angeles. The Lions prevail 41-38 to improve to 7-2. A massive win for Dan Campbell and his team as they convert the 4th-and-2 to set up the win. This Lions team is for real folks.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is over 150 yards receiving. The Lions are in Patterson's range after converting the 4th-and-2. Sam LaPorta catches the Goff pass and now the Lions can run the clock down for Riley Patterson to end it with no time left.
Goff to Raymond. Lions already in FG range. Chargers pass defense as bad as advertised.
Tony Romo called that one. What a play call from Kellen Moore to Keenan Allen on the playaction rollout for the touchdown on 4th-and 1. Allen is on another level -- and he left this game earlier with an injury! 3:34 left and it's 38-38.
Herbert has 323 and 4 TD.
Another 4th-and-1 in this one. The Chargers need this one at the Lions 38 to keep this game going.
Jared Goff is one of the best playaction passers in the league. Brock Wright -- who wears Dan Campbell's 89 -- catches the go-ahead TD pass from Goff on playaction on 3rd-and-1 to give the Lions the lead again.
This is fun folks.
Keenan Alen gets back in the game as a decoy on this play. Fake sweep and Herbert finds Johnston wide open for the score to tie the game. Greta play call by Moore and its 31-31 in the fourth quarter. Game of the day.
Chargers still have trouble scoring after the PI on 4th-and-goal. Justin Herbert hasn't scored on consecutive sneaks from the 1. Now Ekeler was stuffed. Another 4th and goal coming.
Hey look. Another 4th-and-goal play! What will the Chargers do? This one will be massive.
Justin Herbert is putting on a clinic throwing the football today. Not many QBs can make that throw Herbert just made to Quentin Johnston. Don't know if Keenan Allen will be back with that shoulder injury. He's questionable to return.
When in doubt, go to Amon-Ra St. Brown. 4 100-yard game sin a row, catching that 3rd-and-2 pass for 33 yards to get the Lions into the red zone. Next play, scores a TD on a screen.
Lions re-take the lead. St. Brown has 7 catches for 144 yards and a TD.
Big time throw by Justin Herbert to Jalen Guyton for the TD, a 92-yard drive. The Lions passed on a 55-yard FG to start the second half, but Herbert responded with a few big throws to Allen and Guyton to tie the game. Herbert has 249 yards a two touchdowns. He's balling today.
The Lions have 307 yards in the first half, and somehow the Chargers are still in this. This has been fun football if you're a fan of offense. 24-17 at the half with Lions scoring on 4 of 5 possessions. Chargers still alive with TDs on consecutive possessions.
That's a TD by Ekeler, and the Chargers are still in this one. Ekeler has 4 TD in the last 3 games. It's 24-17 in an exciting first half.
This will be a first down by Austin Ekeler, and likely a TD. We'll see what replay shows, but Chargers have a first-and-goal at worst.
Call stands -- and the Lions have 24 points in the first half. Montgomery has 8 carries for 102 yards and a score.
David Montgomery -- bet. He gets a 75-yard touchdown as the Lions have three rushing TDs in the first half. Is Montgomery out of bounds? We'll find out, but Detroit has 177 rush yards if this holds.
What a throw by Justin Herbert and great route by Keenan Allen. Chargers get back in the game thanks to that 29-yard pass. Makes up for the earlier INT by Herbert as its 17-10 with just over three minutes left in the first half. Allen has 5 catches for 65 yards and a score.
Jared Goff should have had Jahmyr Gibbs for a TD, but threw it too fast and high. Lions go for it on 4th-and-goal again, but Gibbs gets it this time. His 2nd TD of the day. Penei Sewell with an awesome block on two defenders to set up Gibbs. It's 17-3 with 7:30 left in second quarter.
Keep in mind the Lions are 0-for-5 on 3rd down.
The Lions already have 200 yards of total offense. They're driving again as Gibbs has 6 carries for 66 yards.
The Lions don't get it. Auston Johnson with the pressure on Jared Goff, who had to just throw it away. Big stand by Chargers to make it 10-3. 96 times the Lions have gone fr it on 4th down since 2021.
Detroit will go for it on 4th down again. This time it's 4th-and-goal.
Bet Dan Campbell was going for it on 4th-and-1 at the 13 after getting a 4th-and-5 from the 28. Amon-Ra St. Brown rushes for the first down to end the quarter. It's 10-3 DET after 1 -- and the Lions are about to score again.
Dan Campbell runs it with David Montgomery -- and he gets the first down! That's trusting the offensive line, run game, and system. This Lions team shows no fear.
I'm a fan of the Lions going for it here. On the road, this could be a huge break against the pass defense that's horrible.
Third straight game with a rush TD for Jahmyr Gibbs. For you David Montgomery fantasy owners, that's a bummer -- but Gibbs is the guy right now (and earned that role). That 35-yard run shows what burst he has on offense.
Chargers respond with a FG as Herbert has targeted Ekeler 3 times already. Kellen more is seeing something in Aaron Glenn's defense. It's 3-3.
Think Austin Ekeler is 100% again. That Ekeler catch for 24 yards looked like the Ekeler we saw the last two years. Chargers on the move.
That low block by Taylor Dekker was tough and took away the Jameson Williams TD. Lions will still get points on their opening drive. The 46-yard catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown jumpstarted that drive. Chargers pass defense could be in for a long day.
Not an ideal start for the Chargers, who go 3-and-out on their first possession. Focusing a lot on Austin Ekeler of late, has he got two touches on the first two plays.
