DETROIT -- Heading into Thursday's game at Ford Field, Matt LaFleur knew Dan Campbell's reputation for aggressive 4th-down decisions. But even with that understanding, one of the Lions coach's late-game calls caught the Green Bay Packers head coach off guard.
With the game tied 31-31 and just 43 seconds left, Campbell made arguably his boldest decision of the season. The Lions, holding the ball on Green Bay's 21-yard line with the Packers out of timeouts, had the option to kick a field goal and take a three-point lead.
That would have left Green Bay with about 30 seconds to attempt a game-tying or game-winning drive.
Instead, Campbell chose to go for it. Handing the ball to David Montgomery, the Lions picked up seven yards and a crucial first down at the Packers' 14-yard line. This set up rookie kicker Jake Bates for a walk-off field goal, sealing Detroit's 34-31 victory. The win improved the Lions to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the NFC North.
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After the game, LaFleur reflected on the Lions' critical 4th-down gambles and how they influenced the outcome.
"Not necessarily. Maybe the one at the end of the game a little bit, but that's how Dan has done it throughout the course of his career," LaFleur told reporters. "And so it doesn't necessarily surprise me, but that gave us an opportunity there. Hats off to them. They executed, and we didn't."
Campbell's aggression wasn't limited to the final minute. Earlier in the game, a 4th-down attempt in the third quarter backfired, setting up a Packers touchdown run by Josh Jacobs early in the fourth quarter.
The Lions finished the game 4-of-5 on 4th-down conversions which frustrated Packers safety Xavier McKinney.
"It's tough. We all have to be locked in, and we all have to do our jobs, me included," McKinney told reporters. "I think it starts with me. We just have to be more locked in and more detailed. Like I said, we have to get those stops when we need them, and we weren't able to do that today."