Detroit Lions fans got something to be very thankful for a bit early this year, as they pulled off an unbelievable win against the Texans in their fight for the No. 1 spot in the NFC North this season.

On Sunday night, Lions fans were having a bad night, to say the least, and trailing by 10 at halftime. Quarterback Jared Goff was throwing interception after interception, and things seemed to be falling apart.

Detroit Lions Squeak By Houston Texans

But, they didn’t. The Lions fought, and they won. The final score was Detroit 26, Houston 23.

The Texans created five turnovers in the first half of the game, all of them interceptions off of Goff, but still weren’t able to beat the Lions. It made history, as only a few quarterbacks have pulled off a win with so many interceptions.

Following the game, the Texans have lost three of their last four matchups, including consecutive games in front of national TV audiences: Thursday Night Football on Halloween Night on Amazon Prime and Sunday Night Football. It’s not a great look, but they’re still a solid team.

Second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud blamed himself for the loss after the game.

“Definitely should have won this game,” Stroud said. “My job is to lead the offense to score points, and I didn’t do that today. … We really should have put them away after the first half. It’s really on the offense.”

Now, they’ll take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football on Monday, November 18.

One big success story for the night was Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates, who made two long field goals to ensure the Lions’ win. He hails from the Michigan Panthers and is an unlikely hero this year. He thanked Jesus when talking to the press after the game. The team also celebrated in the locker room after the win.

John Whiticar of Pride of Detroit noted, “The legacy of Jake Bates grows.” Bates was selling bricks in his hometown of Houston in 2023, and just a year later, he’s one of the best kickers in the NFL. It’s a wonderful story.

“Bates cemented himself in Lions lore, against his former team no less,” Whiticar stated. “He nailed a 58-yard attempt to tie the improbable comeback. In the dying seconds of the game, he hit a 52 yarder to seal the improbable comeback. Bates made both kicks by inches combined, but they squeaked through nonetheless. The Lions have their kicker for the future. He has ice in his veins.”