Lions Beat Packers 20-17 on Bates Walk-Off Field Goal as Time Expires

The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 20-17 at Ford Field on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Jake Bates kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired to settle a Week 7 game that was tied at 17-17 deep into the fourth quarter.

Williams scores both Detroit touchdowns

Jameson Williams scored both Detroit touchdowns, and both came on passes from Jared Goff. Williams caught a 16-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to put the Lions ahead, and he added a 10-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. Bates kicked a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, and Detroit led 10-7 at half time after the teams traded a touchdown each in the opening quarter.

Goff finished 22 of 32 for 303 yards, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Amon-Ra St. Brown led Detroit with 153 receiving yards, and Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 116 yards on 29 carries. Detroit scored seven points in the first quarter, three in the second, seven in the third and three in the fourth.

Love keeps Green Bay in the game

Jordan Love finished 27 of 45 for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns for Green Bay. He threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft in the first quarter and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs in the third quarter. Green Bay scored seven points in the first quarter, none in the second, seven in the third and three in the fourth.

Trey Smack kicked a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17-17. Brian Branch also intercepted a Love pass for Detroit, doing so in his season debut, but the Packers stayed level and had chances to take the lead late.

A chaotic finish decides it

The final minutes brought a string of missed chances and penalties. With the score tied, Detroit failed on fourth and 1 from its own 24-yard line, and Green Bay took over with a chance to win the game. Jacobs then dropped a pass in the end zone on third down, and Smack came on for a 35-yard field goal attempt. D.J. Wonnum tipped the kick, it missed, and Detroit got the ball back with 3:21 left.

Detroit drove back down the field for the winning kick. On that drive, Karl Brooks was flagged for roughing the passer on a hit on Goff, a penalty that moved the Lions closer. Brooks was later flagged again when he jumped offside on third and 5 at the two-minute warning. Gibbs then slid short of the goal line on a run, a choice that kept the clock running and left Bates with the short kick. Bates made the 22-yard field goal as time expired, and Detroit won 20-17.

What the result means

Detroit improved to 4-2 with the win. Green Bay fell into last place in the NFC North with the loss. For the Lions, the result rested on Goff protecting the ball, Williams finishing two scoring drives, and Bates making the last kick after an hour of traded scores and late mistakes from both teams.