Detroit Lions set franchise record for consecutive wins with divisional victory over Packers

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions have set a franchise record for consecutive wins with 11 after defeating the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on Thursday Night Football.

The Lions improved to 12-1 during their week-14 victory, which was capped off by a Jake Bates game-winning field goal.

The victory snapped a 90-year record that they set in 1934 when they won 10 games in a row.

The win also helped the team clinch a playoff spot, as they improved to 9-2 in primetime games under head coach Dan Campbell.

In the process, they ended the Packers' three-game winning streak while also defeating them for the sixth time in their last seven previous matchups.

With an 11-1 record, the Lions are atop the National Football Conference and the NFC North Division while continuing to dominate the National Football League.

Trailing them for a shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC are the Philadelphia Eagles and divisional foe Minnesota Vikings, who are both at 10-2.

Coming into the game, the Lions entered week 14 with a 67% chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference.

After the win, their chances jumped to 79%, and they would rise higher if the Eagles lost this weekend when they play host to the Carolina Panthers.

The victory was much needed as Detroit has the third hardest schedule remaining strength of schedule.

The Lions opened the game with a 2-yard run by running back David Montgomery.

On second down and eight, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a six-yard pass to bring them down to third and two before gaining another four yards.

Montgomery rushed the ball for another 13 yards into the Green Bay Packers territory.

Jahmyr Gibbs entered the game and made a catch-and-run of seven yards.

After a dropped pass on second down, wide receiver Jameson Williams bursts up the right sideline for a catch-and-run of 28 yards.

Gibbs catches the ball for a seven-yard gain before tight end Sam LaPorta makes a tremendous catch of six yards to the Packers seven-yard-line.

On third and goal, wide receiver Tim Patrick drew an illegal contact penalty by cornerback Keisean Nixon for an automatic first down, setting up a Montgomery three-yard-touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead.

The touchdown was his 12th of the season, which capped off an 11-play 70-yard drive in 5:19.

Montgomery became the third player in franchise history to rush for 12 or more touchdowns in consecutive seasons since Lions legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer running back Barry Sanders (1989-1991) and Billy Simms (1980-1981).

Newly acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith sacked Jordan Love for minus seven yards. After an eight-yard scamper by Love, the Lions, on third down and nine, got a pass interference on safety Brian Branch for an automatic first down.

On third down and six, Love threw an incomplete pass after feeling pressured by the Lions' defensive line on their first possession of the game, forcing a punt.

Gibbs toted the rock twice for a combined five yards, setting up a third and five, ending in a sack of minus three yards on quarterback Jared Goff by former Michigan Wolverines defensive end Rashan Gary.

Runing back Josh Jacobs rushed up the gut for five yards to start the drive.

After an incompletion, Smith and defensive end Pat O’Connor forced Love to throw the ball away for the Packers' second punt of the game.

Goff hit Williams for a six-yard catch and run. Gibbs rushed up the middle for a four-yard gain to pick up the first down.

After gaining no yards on first down, Gibbs pounded the rock for a tough five-yard physical run.

But on third down and five, defensive end Colby Wooden made a massive stop on Gibbs for a three-yard loss, forcing a punt.

Jacobs ended the first quarter with a seven-yard run up the gut. The run got him to 1,000 yards for the season.

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Wide receiver Christian Watson made a catch-and-run for 21 yards but was stripped by cornerback Carlton Davis, forcing the first turnover of the game for both teams.

Goff hit LaPorta for a 10-yard run, then got an unnecessary roughness penalty by linebacker Quay Walker on first down.

Goff threw an incompletion, then Gibbs rushed for no yards.

A miscommunication between Williams and Goff led to a 43-yard Bates field goal, which gave the team a 10-0 lead.

With only 37 yards on 10 plays, Love handed the ball to Jacobs for a four-yard gain to start the drive.

Jacobs broke a 19-yard run on second down and six. Emanuel Wilson entered the game for a seven-yard gain.

Running back Chris Brooks kept the sticks moving with a three-yard run. Jacobs gained two yards on second and three after a five-yard encroachment penalty by O’Connor.

The former Las Vegas Raiders back gained another five yards to gain a first down.

An offensive holding penalty pushed the Packers back to first down, and 20 before Love hit tight end Tucker Kraft for eight yards, followed by a 14-yard run to pick up the first down.

Smith got called for an illegal hand’s to the face penalty before a nice five-yard run by Jacobs to the Lions' three-yard line.

Love missed a wide-open Kraft, who fake-blocked and sprinted to the right side of the endzone, but the pass was over his head.

On third down and goal, rookie running back Terrion Arnold got called for pass interference in the endzone, setting up a one-yard touchdown by Jacobs.

The penalty was the 17th pass interference call placed on the Lions this season.

Jacobs and the running game capped off an 11-play drive, which ate up 7:26 to bring the game to a 10-7 battle.

Montgomery rushed to the Packers' 38-yard-line for eight yards to open the drive for the Lions.

Goff hit Williams on a 20-yard strike with a play-action pass before a screen pass to Montgomery for five-yards.

After an incompletion on second down, Goff eluded the pressure and checked the ball down to Montgomery for six yards to keep the drive going.

Another play-action-pass broke open LaPortra for a 13-yard catch and run before a three-yard run by Gibbs to reach the two-minute-warning.

On second down and seven, LaPorta made a tough catch-and-run for 11 yards to the Packers four-yard-line.

Montgomery rushed the ball up the gut for three yards to the one-yard-line. Goff ran a quarterback sneak but was short, leading to a third and goal.

Montgomery got stuffed on third and goal, where they got moved back one yard.

The Lions ran the clock down to 14 seconds before going for it on fourth down and two for a Gibbs out-and-in touchdown reception to take a 17-7 lead into the half.

Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles made history as they’re the first duo to score 12 or more touchdowns from scrimmage in a single season.

After Jacobs got stuffed for a negative one-yard, Love completed his first first down of the game when he hit Watson for 59 yards.

On third down and 10 from the Lions 12, Love hit Kraft for a 12-yard dart to bring the game to 17-14.

Love found his groove to open the half as he led the Packers on a five-play, 70-yard scoring drive.

Offensive tackle Penei Sewell got called for a five-yard penalty before Goff threw an arrant pass in the direction of Patrick to Nixon, who returned the ball to the Lions' 16-yard-line.

Jacobs rushed ran for a two-yard-run before punching the ball into the endzone to cap off a 3:45 drive for six yards to take a 21-17 lead.

Goff hit Gibbs for a five-yard gain, followed by a first-down reception of five yards by Patrick.

Gibbs gained another two yards on first down before LaPorta dropped a contested pass across the middle.

On third down and eight, Goff hit Williams for a seven-yard catch and run before using a quarterback sneak to gain the fourth and one to move the sticks.

Montgomery followed a Honolulu Blue convoy for 13 yards to pick up the first down.

Goff scampered up the right sideline for a nine-yard gain. Gibbs followed that up with a Sonic-like burst up the right sideline for a 20-yard gain to the Packers' eight-yard line.

Gibbs rushed for four yards before rushing for a one-yard run to set up fourth down and goal at the Packers three-yard-line.

After much confusion, Goff hit Patrick for a three-yard touchdown to retake the lead at 24-21.

The Packers offense decided to get tricky with a flea-flicker, but it fell incomplete. Jacobs ran the ball for one yard before Love completed a six-yard catch-and-run to Watson for six yards, leading to a punt.

Goff hit Montgomery for three yards before he picked up one yard on second down.

On third down and six, Patrick caught a pass for five yards, setting up a fourth down and one on their own 26-yard line. He tossed the ball to Gibbs for a sweep, but the Packers' defense ate it up.

After the fourth down stop, Jacobs hit the hole for three yards to set up a second and seven.

Kraft got the ball to the Lions' six-yard line after a 21-yard catch and run to end the third quarter.

The turnover led to another Jacobs touchdown, his third of the game, giving the team a 28-24 lead.

Goff hit Patrick for an 18-yard grab to their own 30-yard-line.

St. Brown moved the chains after an 11-yard catch-and-run followed by a Gibbs run for two yards.

LaPorta made a spectacular grab for 14 yards, moving the ball to the Packers 17-yard-line.

Detroit went tricky with a fake run and handoff to St. Brown to the left side, following Sewell up the left side of the field for 10 yards.

Patrick snagged his second touchdown of the game after another play-action pass for the one-yard score to retake the lead at 31-28.

The two-touchdown game was Patrick’s second of his career.

The Packers' fourth-quarter drive started with a false start, so at first down and 15 yards, Jacobs picked up one yard.

On second and 14, Love eluded linebacker Jack Campbell and connected with Watson for a 29-yard grab.

Love connected with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks for a 27-yard gain.

Wicks shook Davis for a 12-yard gain before taking a nasty hit.

On first and goal from the Lions seven-yard-line, Jacobs ran for a one-yard gain.

Jacobs got a touchdown reception, but it was called back after Watson was called for offensive pass interference.

On second and 14 from the 20-yard line, Love after feeling pressure threw the ball away, setting up a third and goal, trailing 31-28.

Linebacker Ezekiel Turner stopped Love for a two-yard run, setting up a game-tying field goal.

Goff opened the drive with a 19 pass to Willams, followed that up with an 11-yard catch and run by Patrick.

On second and 9, Gibbs caught a two-yard pass to set up a third down and seven, where he eluded a couple of defenders to gain seven yards for the first down.

With 1:55 remaining, the Lions in field goal range got called for holding by offensive lineman Frank Ragnow.

On first down and 17, Montgomery gained three yards before Goff hit St. Brown for 16 yards.

With less than a yard to go and 43 seconds remaining, instead of kicking a field goal, picked up the first down after a Montgomery seven-yard run, setting up a game-winning field goal attempt from Bates.

Goff finished the game completing 32-41 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

If you want more Lions prime-time action, then you’re in luck, as they’ll host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.