Detroit Lions narrowly edge past Oakland Raiders 28-27 in Week 15 game – NFL Recap
The Detroit Lions narrowly managed to edge past the Oakland Raiders 28-27 after a 6 yards touchdown pass by Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson with just 39 seconds remaining in the game. This was followed by a game winning block
by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh who averted what could have been a game winning field goal by the Raiders.
The game featured a close fight by both the sides who were faced with a must win situation to keep their hopes of reaching the playoffs alive. A combine effort by Stafford, Johnson and Suh had the game in favour of the Lions. The
Lions are now just two wins away from their playoff dreams.
The player of the day for the Lions was Stafford who hit hard with four touchdowns, completing 29 of 52 passes. His performance included two touchdowns in the last minutes of the game that helped the Lions outscore the Raiders
who were surely headed for a clear victory.
The first quarter of the game ended with a touchdown being scored by both the sides. The first blow was delivered by the Raiders as Louis Murphy ran for 12 yards to score a touchdown. The Lions struck back just three minutes later
after a 51 yard touchdown pass from Stafford was taken by Johnson.
The second quarter oversaw a close fight with the lead initially going the way of Raiders 14-7 with a 43 yard touchdown pass by Carson Palmer to Darrius Heyward-Bey. So when later the Raiders lost, Palmer was frustrated.
"Very demoralizing," Palmer said.
Eight minutes later, the score was tied again as Nate Burleson took a 39 yard touchdown pass from Stafford but only for a minute. Sebastian Janikowski replied with a 46 yard field goal to take the lead in the ending second of the
game. The lead was maintained for the third quarter and much of the fourth quarter by the Raiders as Janikowski went for another 51 yard field goal followed by a touchdown scored by Aaron Curry of a fumble recovery. The Raiders sure looked having made their
way with about 8 minutes remaining in the game.
However it then that Stafford struck with his outstanding performance. A 3-yard pass to Titus Young had the Lions trailing by just six points. And just when it seemed the game would end with Raiders emerging victorious, a six yard
pass to Johnson by Stafford had the Lions move ahead by a mere one point with just 39 seconds remaining in the game. The Raiders tried hitting back but a last desperate win attempt through a field goal was successfully blocked by Suh. Suh who just returned
after a two game suspension made his presence meaningful.
"I'm just proud of our team. We stuck together. Guys rallied around each other. Defence did a great job of getting us the ball back on offense.” Stafford said.
Head Coach Hue Jackson agreed Stafford and Johnson had them beaten back.
"The disappointing part is their best player. He won the game for them. Between the quarterback and Calvin Johnson, 214 yards and two touchdowns, that's how you lose. It's very frustrating." Jackson said.
Palmer played well completing 32 of 40 passes for 367 yards with one touchdown but could not prevent the amazing comeback by the Lions in the last minutes.
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