FIRST: BATES DOES IT AGAIN

Lions head coach Dan Campbell works with many different situations in practice, and it just so happens that during Thursday’s practice this week he was working on an end-of-game scenario similar to what happened Sunday night in Detroit’s 26-23 . come-from-behind victory in Houston.

A pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown put the Lions at the 43-yard line at the end of practice Thursday, and Bates ultimately kicked a field goal from 60 yards out in the wind.

That’s how it went in Sunday night’s game against the Texans, with the offense trying to put Bates in position to win late. A pass from Goff to St. Brown gave the Lions a first down at the Houston 37-yard line. The offense gained three more yards to the 34-yard line and ran the clock back to four seconds when Bates came out for a 52-yarder to win it.

Bates managed to keep the Lions sideline sprinting after him as they pushed their win streak to seven games and remained atop the NFC with an 8-1 record.

“I’ve never been lifted like that,” Bates said in the post-game locker room as his teammates carried him on their shoulders. “That was pretty cool to see the sidelines come and hug me and that was a cool moment.”

Bates has been a great story this year, going from brick-and-mortar 18 months ago to twice being the hero for the Lions with two walk-off field goals. Sunday night’s winner made him a perfect 14-for-14 field goal shooter this season.

“I just don’t deserve this,” Bates said. “I was a football player growing up. I idolized football players in the NFL. Just to be here is surreal. I still find myself pinching myself a little bit.”

Bates also made a career-high 58-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

“It was the first thing I thought of when I looked at him … and it just made me feel good,” Campbell said as he recalled Thursday’s practice before sending Bates on Sunday night. “I just had a feeling he was going to make it and he did. He stepped up and nailed it.”