Jake Bates' last-second 35-yard field goal helped the Detroit Lions clinch a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
The Lions (12-1) broke a franchise record with their 11th straight win - including two over the Packers (9-4) - to stay ahead of Minnesota (10-2) in the highly-competitive NFC North.
Jared Goff passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns (two to Tim Patrick), while David Montgomery had 84 combined yards rushing and receiving and scored a touchdown.
"This will be one of those you'll never forget," Detroit coach Dan Campbell said, whose side went for it on fourth down five times, including with one yard to go at the Green Bay 21 with 43 seconds left.
Montgomery ran for 7 yards, barely getting a handoff from Goff after the quarterback got his feet tangled up.
That ensured the Lions could try a field goal without giving the Packers the ball back, and Bates nailed his third-game winning kick this season.
"I just felt like we needed to end it on offense," Campbell said. "I did not want to give the ball back and I believed we could convert. I trust the O-line. I trust David."
Detroit scored on their first possession of the game, with Montgomery finishing off the 11-play, 70-yard march with a three-yard scoring run.
Jordan Love's second completion of the game was fumbled by Christian Watson on the first play of the second quarter.
The Lions recovered the ball at their own 46-yard line and turned the giveaway into three points, as Bates kicked a 43-yard field goal. Jacobs' one-yard scoring run with 5:35 left in the half put the Packers on the board.
However, the Lions re-established the lead in the closing seconds of the half on fourth-and-goal. Goff hit running back Jahmyr Gibbs over the middle on a two-yard pass to complete the 70-yard drive.
Love's 59-yard completion to Watson during the opening possession of the second half set up his 12-yard scoring pass to tight end Tucker Kraft. That cut Detroit's lead to 17-14.
Keisean Nixon picked off a Goff pass moments later, giving the Packers the ball at the Lions' 16-yard line. Green Bay took the lead on Jacobs' six-yard run with 11:15 remaining in the quarter.
Goff and the Lions responded with a 13-play drive. Goff found Patrick on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line, providing Detroit with a 24-21 lead.
After forcing a punt, Detroit gambled on fourth-and-1 from their own 31 but it backfired as Gibbs was thrown for a loss. Jacobs scored from four yards out in the opening minute of the fourth quarter as the Packers regained the lead.
The Lions roared right back with a 10-play drive, completed by Goff's one-yard pass to Patrick with 8:39 to play. The Packers tied it at 31-apiece with 3:38 left on Brandon McManus' 32-yard field goal.
Detroit ran out the clock on its ensuing possession. A 16-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Montgomery's seven-yard run on fourth down - with Goff falling to the ground as he handed the ball off - with less than a minute left put Bates in position to make the game-winning kick.
Watch the Atlanta Falcons take on Minnesota Vikings from 6pm live on Sky Sports NFL on Sunday, followed by the Buffalo Bills against the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Charges versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
