Sunday Night Football: Jared Goff throws five picks, but Lions win 26-23 in final FG game

The Lions should have lost. Despite Jared Goff's five interceptions, they couldn't do that.

Detroit scored on a 52-yard game-winner from Jake Bates on the final play of the game to deliver an improbable 26-23 victory. The Lions went 8-1 while the Texans fell to 6-4.

In one of the most entertaining games of the season, the teams combined for seven interceptions. Four came in the third quarter, with Goff and Texas quarterback CJ Stroud throwing two each.

Goff threw just four interceptions in the first eight games. Kamari Lassiter had two picks and Jimmie Ward, Henry To'oTo'o and Azeez Al-Shaair had one each as Goff set a new career high for interceptions in a game. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the gifts, the Texans still lost.

Houston led 23-7 at halftime but didn't score in the second half. Stroud had Tank Dell wide open in the third quarter for a 30-yard touchdown that might have prevented it, but he threw it too late, allowing Carlton Davis to come back and intercept it. It was Davis' second interception of the night.

Bates, a Houston-area native who was in the Texans' camp last year, hit a 58-yarder with 5:01 left to tie the game at 23-23. Bates has a 14-for-14 record this season and has won two games.

The Texans had a chance to take the lead, but couldn't. The Lions got away with a defensive pass interference on a third-and-4 when Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold played through the back of Xavier Hutchinson before the ball arrived. The no-call left DeMeco Ryans with a decision: punt, go for it, or try for a 58-yard field goal.

Texas kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn, who was 10 of 12 from 50-plus yards with a long of 59 this season, was wide left trying to take the lead with 1:51 left.

The Lions managed just 18 yards and used up the rest of the time before Bates scored the game-winning goal.

Stroud was 19 of 33 for 232 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. John Metchie caught five passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Joe Mixon rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

For the Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries and David Montgomery had 12 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. Sam LaPorta caught three passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Goff is just the third quarterback since 1991 to throw five interceptions in a game and win. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan also achieved the feat in 2012 and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in 2007.