Detroit Lions rally past Atlanta Falcons with last second FG

I think it’s safe to say, the Brits got their money’s worth at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The Detroit Lions were able to rally past the Atlanta Falcons with 22 unanswered points in the second half and a 48-yard field goal from Matt Prater as time expired.

44. 22. 50. Final. 21

It was a collapse of historic proportions for the Falcons who started the game well, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives. They went into halftime with a commanding 21-0 lead, and seemed to have the game well in hand.

Things would quickly change however when both teams returned to the field in the third quarter and the second half would end up as lopsided as the first, only with the Detroit Lions in control.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford got things rolling for Detroit and ended the day with 325 yards through the air with two touchdowns and one interception to go with it. His two touchdown tosses moved him past Hall of Famer, Bobby Layne on the Detroit Lions all-time touchdown passing list.

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions defense also entered the game still ranked No. 1 in the NFL and came up big when it mattered most despite struggling in the first half. The Falcons seemed to be in control once again at the two-minute, but were unable to run off enough time after a holding penalty and a Julio Jones drop on third down.

Detroit would get the ball back with 1:48 remaining in the game and started their drive from deep in their own territory. Stafford was able to hit wide receiver Golden Tate on a 32-yard pass on the Lions first play of the drive. He then connected with running back Theo Riddick on a 20-yard pass and later hit Jeremy Ross for another first down.

“We don’t give up. We keep fighting. We believe in what we can do. We keep pushing,” Ross said. “We keep driving, keep fighting, we don’t stop.” – WR Jeremy Ross

In the final seconds the Lions positioned themselves in the middle of the field and prepared to put the game on their kickers leg.

It was a decision that had Detroit Lions fans everywhere on the edge of their seats as Prater was the teams third kicker of the 2014 season. Collectively, the Lions were also 0-7 on field goal attempts from 40-yards or beyond.

Then came the kick.

Miss.

Prater’s first attempt from 43-yards out went wide right, however a delay of game call negated the play and gave the Lions another attempt at the game winner, this time from 48-yards away.

This time, it was good.

"“I knew Prater was going to make it. I played two years with him before,” Lions cornerback Cassius Vaughn said. “When he missed the first one I was like, `That was just the practice swing.’ The second one was cake.”“I was just like, `Dang it,’ and then I started looking and going, `Oh, oh, OK,” Lions receiver Jeremy Ross said. “I was just like waiting to see what happened. Is he getting another kick or what? When he made it, it was fire.”"

The win was the Detroit Lions second come-from-behind victory in a two week time period as they were able to defeat the New Orleans Saints last week in the closing minutes as well.

Detroit Lions rally past Atlanta Falcons with last second Field Goal

By Nate Williams | Oct 26, 2014