Jake Bates slotted over the go-ahead field goal with 15 seconds remaining as the Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-29 to move to the top of the NFC North.
The Vikings looked like they would extend their record to 6-0 when a fumble from David Montgomery enabled Ivan Pace to scoop the ball up and return it for a touchdown with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But the two-point pass conversion failed, which allowed Jared Goff one more chance to move the Lions downfield and Bates did the rest with a clutch kick from 44 yards.
FINAL: Lions sit atop the NFC. #DETvsMIN pic.twitter.com/u4BJ4Ud8oc
— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
The Lions and Vikings are both 5-1 but Detroit holds the tie-breaker following today’s win.
McManus also stars with the boot
The Green Bay Packers improved to 5-2 in the same division with another kicker stealing the limelight, Brandon McManus slotting home from 45 yards on his debut to give them a 24-22 win over the Houston Texans.
Quarterback Jordan Love had a good day for the Packers with 214 yards and three touchdowns while Joe Mixon rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Texans.
Saquon Barkley enjoyed his return to East Rutherford as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants 28-3.
Barkley, who spent six years with the Giants before moving to the Eagles in the offseason, received a hostile reception but had the last laugh by rushing for 176 yards on 17 carries and added two catches and a touchdown for his new team.
GO BIRDS! @saquon pic.twitter.com/0nKIjuY8xG
— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Seahawks roll on
Geno Smith was 18-for-28 passing for 207 yards and two touchdowns as the Seattle Seahawks moved to 4-3 in the NFC West with a 34-14 win at the Atlanta Falcons.
Josh Allen threw for 323 yards as the Buffalo Bills overcame a halftime deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 34-10. The Bills trailed 10-7 at the half but scored 27 unanswered points to improve their record to 5-2 in the AFC East.
The Miami Dolphins slipped to 2-4 after the Indianapolis Colts also staged a second-half comeback to win 16-10.
The Dolphins lost quarterback Tyler Huntley to a shoulder injury in the third quarter.
Jaguars shine in London
The Jacksonville Jaguars enjoyed a 32-16 win over the New England Patriots in London.
Tank Bigsby led a ground-heavy offense with two touchdowns for the Jags. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo labelled his side as “soft” after watching them slip to a sixth successive defeat.
Watson, whose name was booed by frustrated home fans before the game, went down late in the first half and did not return.
