The Detroit Lions converted a huge fourth down late in the game Sunday evening, which helped set up the 41-38 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was one of five fourth-down attempts by Detroit during the game, but with a 38-38 tie and facing a 4th and 2, head coach Dan Campbell decided to go for it instead of kicking a 43-yard field goal.
If the team had made the field goal, they would’ve given the ball back to the Chargers with over 1:40 left in the game.
Campbell detailed his decision in a press conference after the game.
“I wanted to finish with the ball. I trusted our guys; I trust Goff,” Campbell said. “Going into that situation, there was going to be a lot of time left. You know, kick a field goal. I wanted to finish with the ball in our hands, and I liked where we were offensively. We were playing well; Goff was in a good spot, and I felt that was the right thing to do.”
Goff completed a 6-yard pass to tight end Sam LaPorta, which put the Lions at the Chargers’ 20-yard line.
Detroit then took three kneel-downs, and Riley Patterson kicked the 41-yard game-winning field goal to improve the Lions’ record to 7-2 on the season.
Detroit takes on the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon before hosting the Packers four days later on Thanksgiving.
