Lions Stun Eagles with Late Comeback, 45-27, in NFC Wild Card Thriller

PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a thrilling Wild Card clash, the Detroit Lions clawed their way back to stun the Philadelphia Eagles 45-27, securing a dramatic victory. Despite trailing 20-7 with under six minutes left in the first half, the Lions stormed back, fueled by explosive plays and key defensive stands, to take the lead and ultimately hold off Philadelphia’s late-game surge.

Game Recap

The Eagles struck first with a strong start, as Saquon Barkley broke loose for a touchdown run, putting Philadelphia up 7-0. The Lions answered with a big play from Jahmyr Gibbs, who burst through the Eagles’ defense for a long touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.

The Eagles responded with a dominant stretch, capitalizing on big plays from Barkley, who added another rushing touchdown, and Dallas Goedert, who caught a short touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts. A missed extra point left the Eagles leading 20-7. With the clock ticking down in the first half, the Lions engineered a quick, methodical drive. Jared Goff found Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown on key completions, and Sam LaPorta snagged a critical touchdown reception, bringing the Lions within six points.

Detroit wasn’t done yet. With just 38 seconds remaining in the half, Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for another touchdown, giving the Lions a surprising 21-20 lead going into halftime. This late swing energized Detroit as they headed into the locker room, having erased a 13-point deficit in minutes.

In the second half, the Lions continued their offensive dominance. Brock Wright scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Goff, extending Detroit’s lead to 28-20. They added to it with a field goal by Jake Bates, giving the Lions a 31-20 lead. Later, with just over a minute left in the third quarter, Goff connected with Jameson Williams for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Bates’ extra point made it 38-20, giving the Lions a comfortable cushion.

The Eagles attempted a comeback, finally answering with a short touchdown run by Barkley with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 38-27. However, that would be all the Eagles could muster, as the Lions’ offense struck once more. Following a 4th-and-21 conversion from their own side of the field, Goff connected with Tim Patrick for a touchdown, extending the lead to 45-27.

In the final minutes, the Lions’ defense forced Hurts into incomplete passes as time expired, securing the win and sending Detroit to the Divisional Round.

Key Stats

• Jared Goff: 25-of-33, 316 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
• Jahmyr Gibbs: 12 carries, 70 rushing yards, 1 touchdown.
• Jameson Williams: 5 receptions, 81 yards, 1 touchdown.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown: 4 receptions, 29 yards, 1 touchdown.
• Sam LaPorta: 4 receptions, 45 yards, 1 touchdown.
• Tim Patrick: 3 receptions, 40 yards, 1 touchdown.
• Jalen Hurts (PHI): 18-of-39, 274 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception.
• Saquon Barkley (PHI): 12 carries, 71 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns; 3 receptions, 68 receiving yards, 1 touchdown.
• A.J. Brown (PHI): 4 receptions, 73 yards.
• Dallas Goedert (PHI): 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 touchdown.

Detroit’s offensive efficiency, led by Goff’s five-touchdown performance, combined with timely defensive stops, proved too much for the Eagles to overcome. Philadelphia, led by Hurts and Barkley, showcased their offensive firepower but ultimately fell short of keeping pace with the Lions.

Quotes from the Field

After the game, Jared Goff emphasized the importance of the team’s resilience, saying, “We faced a tough Philly team, but everyone stepped up. The way we fought back, especially late in the first half, was huge. Jameson [Williams] and the guys made big plays all night.”

Jahmyr Gibbs, who electrified the crowd with his long touchdown run, spoke on the team’s energy. “We came in with a game plan to stay aggressive, and it paid off,” Gibbs said. “Our offense clicked, and when it mattered most, our defense came through.”

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reflected on the tough loss, saying, “We had the momentum early, but we couldn’t finish the way we wanted. Detroit made plays, and we didn’t capitalize on our chances. Hats off to them.”

Up Next

With their Wild Card victory, the Lions advance to the NFC Divisional Round, where they’ll face the top-seeded Green Bay Packers, led by quarterback Jordan Love. The Packers, who earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed, bring a powerful offense and a stingy defense, making this divisional matchup an exciting showdown. Detroit will need to maintain its offensive firepower and defensive discipline as it aims to continue its playoff run.