Detroit Lions end losing run with 26-23 OT win over Philadelphia Eagles - NFL Recap
The Detroit Lions rallied late on to win an epic battle with the Philadelphia Eagles 26-23 in overtime on Sunday, October 14, 2012.
10 points down in the fourth quarter, the Detroit Lions could see no light at the end of the tunnel but inexplicably the Eagles defence completely collapsed as quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver, Calvin Johnson combined once again to lead a typical late Lions comeback.
The Eagles defence for most of the game was brilliant while the Lions were poor and it seemed like an easy win was on the cards for Philadelphia.
However, just like in week five against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Eagles collapsed in the fourth quarter allowing the Lions to take home a crucial overtime win.
Stafford passed for 311 yards and threw a touchdown while rushing for one more in the final quarter that got Detroit’s comeback rolling.
The Lions quarterback rushed for a touchdown at the 10:30 mark in the final quarter to make 16-13.
However, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick responded with a mammoth 70-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin five minutes later to restore his team’s 10-point lead.
Detroit regained possession and with 3:32 left in the quarter Stafford found Nate Burleson for a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the Eagles lead to just three points.
In the dying seconds kicker Jason Hanson sent a 19-yard field goal attempt through the prongs to send the game to overtime while scoring a second from 45 yards to win the game for Detroit who finally managed to end their losing run.
The Eagles were decimated after the game and it will be a long bye-week for the franchise as the players will look at what they have to do to stop giving away games late on.
Coach Andy Reid said after the game:
"I don't know what to tell you other than we have to do better. We've got to learn how to win football games. You have a 10-point lead with 10 minutes left, you have to learn how to finish."
Nnamdi Asomugha was visibly frustrated with the defeat and said:
"This is pretty bad because this was a big game for us. We lost last week and going into a bye this hurts a lot because it would have helped us. If we can't win a game like that, we have to go back to the drawing board. We have to close out a game like that."
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice during the game.
It was a much needed boost for the Lions and the players will be happy with the return to winning ways right after the bye-week.
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