| Lions kicker Jason Hanson made good on a 45-yard field goal in overtime to lift Detroit over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. (US Presswire) |
The Detroit Lions trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter and all the momentum was in the other huddle. In other words, the Lions had the Philadelphia Eagles right where they wanted them.
That’s because the Eagles had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, and it seemed as if nothing was going the Lions’ way. Then, suddenly, everything was going their way as they pulled out a 26-23 victory in overtime on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
“We always feel that we’re at our best when things look the worst,’’ Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson said. “And things looked pretty bad.”
The Lions tied the game with just three seconds to play when Jason Hanson kicked a 19-yard field goal, and Hanson won it with a 45-yarder in OT after the Lions defense stopped the Eagles, sacking Michael Vick twice.
The Lions' defense set up the winning kick after the Eagles (3-3) won the coin flip to start overtime and elected to receive. The two sacks pushed the Eagles back toward their own goal line, and the Lions (2-3) got the ball back at midfield, then moved close enough for Hanson's fourth field goal of the game.
When the game turned: The Eagles won the coin flip to start the overtime and took possession on their 31-yard line, which was pretty good field position considering their offense was playing pretty well at the time. But Vick was sacked on first down by DE Cliff Avril and then again on second down by DT Nick Fairly and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, which pushed the Eagles back to their own 4-yard line facing third-and-31. When the Eagles were forced to punt one play later, the Lions took over on the 50. That was good enough for them to move close enough for Hanson’s game-winning 45-yarder.
Highlight moments: Eagles CB Nnamdi Asomugha’s interception in the end zone of a long pass from Detroit QB Matthew Stafford intended for All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson. … Lions TE Scheffler’s leaping 57-yard reception that set up the Lions’ FG in the fourth quarter that brought them within three points. …. Lions WR Calvin Johnson’s toe-tapping, 16-yard catch on the sideline that was initially ruled out of bounds, then overturned. That set up the tying FG with three seconds left to play.
Top-shelf performances:
- Calvin Johnson had just one catch for 28 yards in the first half, then five catches for 107 yards in the second.
- Eagles K Alex Henry kicked four FGs, including 49-yarder.
- Lions K Jason Hanson also kicked four FGs – one sent the game into overtime and the other won it.
- Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin had six catches for 130 yards, including 70-yard TD.
What they said about the Lions’ comeback:
- Hanson: “I’m numb. I know I’ve been at this for 20-plus years, but I was nervous because we needed this bad to get our season on track.”
- Eagles LB DeMeco Ryans: “When you’re up 10 points in the fourth quarter, that’s a game you have to win. We just didn’t get the job done.”
- Stafford: “It takes a lot of heart. It would have been a lot easier to just fold it in and go home packing. This team has a heck of a lot of fight and that’s something we pride ourselves in.”
- Eagles RB LeSean McCoy: “To lose like this, it gives you a sick feeling.”
Numbers you should know: This was the eighth time Stafford has engineered a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter. … Maclin had 130 receiving yards, his eighth career 100-yard game. … Vick had his ninth 300-yard passing game as an Eagle, which is already the fifth-highest total in team history.
Injury update: Lions CB Jacob Lacey left the game twice with a head injury and didn’t return after the second time when he was diagnosed with a concussion. Lions CB Bill Bentley left with shoulder injury and did not return. Eagles S Nate Allen left in fourth quarter with hamstring injury and did not return.
Going forward: Lions -- They head to prime time next week for a Monday Night Football showdown with NFC North rival Chicago, a game the Lions must win to keep their hopes alive for a division title. Then they get a break -- actually, a couple of them -- when they play Seattle and Jacksonville, two games they should win. Eagles -- They’re off next week, then face perhaps the best team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons, before traveling to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the Saints’ high-powered offense. And that sets the stage for what is always the biggest game of the year -- the hated Dallas Cowboys come to town for an NFC East game.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.