By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer
DETROIT — Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, Jake Bates made a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
The NFC-best 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.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth down five times, including with 1 yard to go at the Green Bay 21-yard line with 43 seconds left, and his gambles backfired only once.
David Montgomery ran for 7 yards, barely getting a handoff from Goff after the quarterback tripped and was falling toward the turf. That ensured the Lions could attempt a field goal without giving the Packers the ball back, and Bates hit his third-game winning kick this season.
Goff threw two touchdown passes on fourth-and-goal, one to Tim Patrick, who had two TD catches. He also threw an interception in the third quarter to set up one of Josh Jacobs’ career-high matching three touchdown runs.
Goff found Jahymr Gibbs open in the end zone for a 2-yard pass on a fourth down with 11 seconds left in the first half to put Detroit ahead 17-7.
Goff later connected with Patrick on a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter.
Green Bay took advantage of the only time Campbell’s aggressiveness didn’t pan out, denying Gibbs on a fourth-down run late in the third quarter from the Detroit 31.
Jacobs scored for a third time on a 3-yard run on the ensuing drive.
Brandon McManus made a 32-yard field goal with 3:38 left to pull the Packers into a 31-all tie in a game that had four lead changes earlier in the second half.
The Lions’ final drive began with Goff’s 19-yard pass to Jameson Williams. He also connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for 16 yards on the decisive possession. Goff finished 32 of 41 for 283 yards, and six Lions players had at least five receptions.
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Jordan Love was 12 of 20 for 206 yards with a touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft early in the third quarter.
INJURIES
Packers: Safety Evan Williams (concussion), safety Javon Bullard (ankle) and defensive end Lukas Van Ness (thumb) were hurt during the game.
Lions: Defensive lineman Alim McNeill left with a head injury after he was evaluated for a concussion and returned to play briefly.
More to come on this story.
UP NEXT
The Packers play at NFC West-leading Seattle in a Sunday night game on Dec. 15.
The Lions host AFC East-leading Buffalo on Dec. 15.
Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates kicks the game-winning, 35-yard field goal from the hold of Jack Fox (3) as time expires in their 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)