GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Many Detroit Lions players have voiced their love and admiration for their head coach, Dan Campbell. And it’s clear that Dan Campbell loves his team.
That was his message to his players following Sunday night’s 26-23 come-from-behind win over the Texans in Houston. Detroit rallied from a 16-point deficit to win with a 52-yard Jake Bates field goal as time expired.
In the locker room following the game, Campbell praised his team for their perseverance.
“That is the definition of resiliency. You guys just kept banging away,” Campbell said. “We did whatever we had to do, and we just (expletive) bought our time. Defense, that was outstanding, man. That was outstanding.”
After giving up 23 points in the first half, thanks in part to short fields set up by turnovers, the defense locked down in the second half. The Lions held Houston scoreless in the second half and limited them to just 82 yards.
Carlton Davis III had arguably his best game as a Lion. The free-agent cornerback made four tackles and intercepted two passes, including one in the end zone to stifle a likely scoring drive.
Houston’s defense had quarterback Jared Goff rattled for most of the game. The Texans intercepted Goff five times, including one on a Hail Mary attempt before halftime and another at the 1-yard line.
But Goff and the offense came through when they needed it most, including a 64-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter to pull within three, and then two more drives that led to Bates’s field goals to tie it up and then steal the win.
“We knew it was just a matter of time, offense. We would get our points. Bates, that was freaking ginormous,” Campbell said, eliciting some cheers for the kicker who came through in the clutch. “This is what great teams do. This is what great teams do. Even when you are having an off day, you find a way. You freaking find a way and you will it to happen. That’s what you did today.”
The Lions (8-1) will put their 7-game win streak on the line next Sunday at Ford Field against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
