August 17, 2024, saw the Detroit Lions play their second preseason game of the season away from home against the Kansas City Chiefs. The fact that the Lions defeated the Chiefs in the final seconds isn’t nearly as significant as the fact that Dan Campbell and his coaching staff were able to get a backup quarterback and kicker as a result of the on-field activity.
The quarterback will be discussed first. Despite Nate Sudfeld’s strong performance against the Chiefs, it’s clear that Hendon Hooker leads the offense more effectively. Hooker came off the bench and missed two passes out of the gate in the second half. However, he was nearly unstoppable after that and assisted the Lions in winning 24-23.
In the fourth quarter, Hooker helped the Lions go within a point of the Chiefs by rushing for a 7-yard score. With barely two seconds remaining in the game, Hooker’s pass to Tom Kennedy set up Detroit for a 43-yard field goal try, setting up a thrilling finish to the contest.
If Jared Goff isn’t fully healthy for the upcoming season—which is hopefully unlikely given his preseason showing—Hooker will probably be called upon to fill in. Time will tell, of course, but Hooker’s case has just gotten stronger thanks to the preseason games.
With two seconds remaining, Hooker moved to put the Lions within a few points of a victory. Campbell then called on current Lion Jake Bates, a former UFL kicker, to attempt the 43-year field goal.
Going into the upcoming season, it appeared that Bates would be the clear choice for a kicker following Michael Badgley’s tragic season-ending injury. That was further confirmed by this preseason contest. He was particularly outstanding most recently when Bates scored a 53-yard field goal against the Giants in the Lions’ preseason opener.
Bates outperformed the Chiefs once more in this encounter. Bates made a 55-yard field goal in the first half of the game that seemed like it may have gone much farther. After wide receiver Kade Davis scored a touchdown pass that went for 61 yards, Bates was unable to convert the extra point, which put him in a difficult situation. Bates is undoubtedly a skilled kicker, but his inconsistent play raises questions. He may score extra points on the board one moment and be scoring deep field goals the next.
When Bates returned strongly in the second half, some of those worries were allayed. He kicked the game-winning 43-yard field goal after making a 32-yarder in the third quarter. He ultimately completed four field goals out of four. Given those numbers, it’s safe to say that Bates has cemented his position as the Lions’ starting kicker. But before the regular season starts, let’s hope he can work out some of those issues that are causing him to miss field goals and odd points. It’s also important to note that NFL analysts who watched the Chiefs game favor Bates and Hooker.
Beginning on Sunday, September 8, at 8:20 p.m. Eastern time, is the Detroit Lions’ 2024 regular season.
Be the first to comment