When it comes to the most improbable wins in NFL history, the Detroit Lions' 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 10 is near the top of the list.
Everything was going wrong for the Lions through three quarters, mostly because of the putrid performance from quarterback Jared Goff, who threw a whopping five interceptions in that span, including three in the first half.
The three interceptions were the most Goff has ever thrown in a half, and the five total were the most the veteran signal-caller has ever tossed in a single game.
But the gritty, gutty Lions never gave up. After falling behind 23-7 at the half, the Lions' defense put the clamps on the Texans offense, which allowed Detroit to slowly climb back into the game.
Trailing 23-20 in the fourth quarter, the Lions called on Jake Bates to hit a 58-yard field goal, and he delivered. Then, as time expired, Bates drilled yet another long field goal, this time from 52 yards out to give the Lions the 26-23 win.
According to FOX Sports' Greg Auman, the last quarterback to win a game despite throwing five interceptions was Atlanta Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan, who did it during the 2012 campaign.
And, in the Super Bowl era, quarterbacks who threw five or more picks in a game sported a 9-141-2 record, according to the Associated Press' Josh Dubow. After Sunday night, that mark has improved to 10-141-2.
Shockingly enough, Goff isn't the first Lions quarterback in franchise history to throw five or more picks in a game and win.
According to Pro Football Reference, Frankie Sinkwich tossed six interceptions in a game against the Cleveland Rams in 1944 and won that contest. Sinkwich also had a seven-interception game the year before, but the Lions lost that game.
There are simply no words for what transpired on Sunday night. Even at their worst, the Lions were good enough to knock off one of the better teams in the NFL.
After winning in the face of such adversity, there's seemingly nothing too big for head coach Dan Campbell's team to overcome.
