Jake Bates scores game-tying field goal to send Lions vs. Rams into overtime

Jake Bates scores game-tying field goal to send Lions vs. Rams into overtime

In what was the first NFL game of his career, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates played a key role in the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Bates got his feet wet in the second quarter by making the first field goal of his career from 26 yards. But that effort paled in comparison to what Bates faced later in the game.

In the fourth quarter, with the Lions trailing 20-17, Detroit ran down the court with less than two minutes left before the offense stalled in Rams territory.

But the Lions were well within Bates’ reach, giving the former UFL star a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. The young kicker fired the ball from 35 yards out.

Talk about breaking through in the clutch. Granted, it was a short field goal, but even a 32-yarder can feel like a million miles away in the kind of high-pressure situation Bates was in.

The Lions signed Bates in June and originally wanted him to compete with Michael Badgley for the starting position, but the veteran kicker was injured and missed the season.

But the Lions didn’t bring in another kicker to compete with Bates, which shows complete confidence in the former Michigan Panthers star. So far, that confidence is paying off, but there’s still a long way to go before Bates establishes himself as the long-term solution in Detroit.