FIRST DOWN: GAME-WINNER
The Lions saw so much potential in young kicker Jake Bates that when Michael Badgley went down in training camp with a season-ending hamstring injury, Detroit had enough confidence to roll with the mostly unproven Bates as their guy.
So far through six games, that's turned out to be a nearly perfect decision.
Bates was the hero for the Lions Sunday, connecting on a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give the Lions a come-from-behind 31-29 win to knock off the previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings and take over first place in the NFC North with a 5-1 record after Week 7.
Bates is now a perfect 10-for-10 kicking field goals to start the year and is 20-for-21 on extra-point attempts.
"You felt good about it," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game about calling on No. 39 to kick a 44-yarder for the lead in the closing moments. "We've had five NFL games with him and when you see him every day in practice and you give him the crowd noise and move the spot and I'm yelling at him and you're just applying pressure and you watch him and he continues to make these kicks, you feel pretty good when he gets pressed into (duty late)."
Bates has a calm demeanor about him that's really paying off for the Lions so far this season.
SECOND DOWN: BRANCH THE PLAYMAKER
Second-year defensive back Brian Branch is quickly becoming one of the best young safeties in the NFL and he's only five games into playing the position after a switch from nickel cornerback this offseason.
Branch had a critical interception at the Lions' 28-yard line in the second quarter, his fourth of the season and third in the last two games for Detroit. It was a play Campbell said after the game he thought was going for a touchdown but Branch came out of nowhere to make a leaping full extension interception.
Branch had four tackles, that interception and two passes defended. He's now produced at least two passes defended in five straight games, which ties for the longest streak by any NFL safety since the data began being collected in 1999.
"(His) confidence is growing sky high," Campbell said of Branch. "He's getting better and better. He's still new to the safety position for us and sometimes you forget that. You can tell how fast he is growing in the position. I'm telling you, the sky is the limit for him.
"He's the ultimate football guy. He understands how to play the game. He's instinctive, he's tough, he's smart, he's a great tackler, he's a ball guy, he's got radar and he's one of those guys who can change a game for you."
THIRD DOWN: GIBBS' DAY
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are arguably the best running back duo in the NFL because on any given Sunday one or both can go off.
After a couple big games by Montgomery early in the season, it was Gibbs' turn Sunday in Minneapolis, rushing for 116 yards with a 7.7 average per rush and finding the end zone twice from 45 and eight yards out. The 45-yard scamper in the second quarter was the longest of Gibbs' career. He had 160 total scrimmage yards on the afternoon.
"It felt great," Gibbs said of his 45-yard touchdown. "I've been waiting on that one for a minute. To get that was very special."
Sunday was Gibbs' fifth career game with multiple touchdown rushes.
"It's been David, David, David (to begin the year) and it was just a matter of time for (Gibbs) to have his moment and today was that," quarterback Jared Goff said. "He was locked in, he really was. You could see it in his eyes. That one run he had was pretty special making the safety miss and that's what he can do. We're fortunate to have two guys like that and today was his day."
FOURTH DOWN: DEFENSIVE EFFORT
On the road in a tough environment against an undefeated opponent, Detroit's defense had a tough task Sunday. Also factor in that unit was playing for the first time without Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg last week in Dallas.
Detroit's defense stood up to the test and made the biggest plays when they needed them the most late in the game to help the Lions earn a big NFC North win on the road.
Holding Minnesota out of the end zone on a two-point try after the offense fumbled away the lead late and then getting a crucial three-and-out in the final minutes to give the ball back to the offense for a chance to win it were two huge moments late.
Detroit held talented Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson under 100 yards receiving (81), Minnesota was 4-for-10 on third down, and the Lions were able to generate four sacks and five quarterback hits.
"Back against the wall, see who the real ones are," Branch said of the defense's late-game heroics. "I feel like all of us play good with our backs against the wall and the fact that we were able to do this early in the season, sky is the limit for us the whole season."
Late in the game Sunday, complementary football won it for the Lions. The defense made stops, the offense moved the ball, and special teams did their job to win it.
"I feel like that just shows what our defense is capable of," safety Kerby Joseph said. "Going through adverse situations and coming out on top ... especially in those crucial times where our offense needs the ball back so they can go down there and make plays and get that field goal, shout out to Jake Bates."
