Every point matters.
According to NFL Game Data's Lee Sharpe on X, every game in Week 1 was decided by a different point differential -- the first time that's occurred in any week where 16 games were played in NFL history.
The game that finished in a one-point victory? The Detroit Lions' 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.
It's a game that could've just as easily been a one-point victory for the Saints, had they converted their overtime two-point conversion attempt. The Saints could have also won by seven-points if the controversial Jared Goff would-be fumble six wasn't overturned after review, assuming the remainder of the game stayed the same. The Lions could've also won by 21 or more had the secondary not collapsed, and the defense continued their dominant start.
Football is an unpredictable game of momentum. Just ask Green Bay Packers' head coach Matt LaFleur after taking a field goal and an eight-point lead off the board, failing the subsequent 4th and 1 attempt, and then getting outscored 22-0 to the Minnesota Vikings to lose by 17.
In a one-point victory, it's worthwhile to gives flowers to the kicker. Jake Bates made all five of his kick attempts. He was not challenged on any of them. Four of those kicks were for extra points, and the other was under extra point range from 23-yards out.
Bates accounted for seven of those 31 points, including the Lions' only three points in the fourth quarter and what would be the game-winning extra point in OT.
Bates will naturally be overshadowed by performances like running back Jahmyr Gibbs', but he can hold his head high knowing that he was one of the biggest reasons the Lions are 1-0 right now.
Calls for a kicking competition grew loud in training camp
Bates' perfect kicking day comes amid concerns leading up the Week 1 game. Bates had a shaky preseason, where he went 3/4 from distance and 3/5 in extra points. In that final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, Bates went 1/3 in extra points.
The concerns didn't stop there, according to James Nahikian (Section 334 Lions on X), Bates had a rough pregame warmup in Week 1, missing "3 or 4 straight 45 ish yarders," including "One he literally shanked on the ground unbelievably bad." Bates' extra point attempts weren't any better, with Nahikian saying they "barely went in."
Bates' kicking has left Lions fans uneasy in recent weeks, with many urging the team to bring in competition. But for this first week, at least, Bates did his job. He made every kick he was asked to in a tight game, and never let the pressure get to him.
READ MORE: Juice Scruggs' debut at center should give Lions fans reason to exhale about offense
Week 1 was a good sign for Bates. If confidence was an issue prior, Sunday's victory should help him gain some of it back. He'll need that confidence since Week 2 is just around the corner in a Thursday night primetime tilt against the Buffalo Bills to open their new outdoor stadium.
With each team scoring and giving up 30 plus points in Week 1, Bates may need to be a hero again for the Lions to pull off a Week 2 upset and start the season 2-0.
Because, once again, every point matters.
Add us as a preferred source on Google