HOUSTON — In an exciting finish on Sunday night, Jake Bates kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, enabling the Detroit Lions to secure a 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans despite quarterback Jared Goff’s challenging performance characterized by five interceptions.

With this win, the Lions marked a significant milestone, reaching an 8-1 record for the first time since 1954. This victory also extended their winning streak to seven games, including five consecutive wins on the road.

The game started off poorly for Detroit, as they found themselves down 23-7 at halftime. Goff struggled significantly, tossing three interceptions during the first half alone, followed by two additional picks in the third quarter. However, the Lions managed to find their footing, rallying with 16 unanswered points to level the game, capped off by Bates’ impressive 58-yard field goal with around five minutes remaining.

The Texans, holding a 6-4 record, had an opportunity to regain the lead with less than two minutes on the clock. Unfortunately for them, Ka’imi Fairbairn’s attempt at a 58-yard field goal missed its mark, veering wide to the left.

Remarkably, the Lions became the first team since the Atlanta Falcons in November 2012 to win a game after throwing five or more interceptions. That previous instance saw Matt Ryan intercepted five times, yet still triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.