Lions K Jake Bates has won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, bringing Detroit’s weekly honors total to six on the season.
For the second time in just nine career games, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Bates was a no-brainer this week after making two huge kicks in the final 5:01 of Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans. The first, a 58-yard boom, tied the game up 23-23. Almost exactly five minutes later, Bates booted the 52-yard game-winning kick to complete Detroit’s comeback victory, 26-23.
JAKE. BATES. CALLED. GAME. #DETvsHOU | NBC pic.twitter.com/fSa4NBaZsP
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024
“We’re getting some pretty long kicks here,” coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “I don’t particularly like to do that all the time, but sometimes you need it when you get in a game like that. He’s answered the bell.”
Bates also won the award back in Week 7 after he nailed a 44-yard game-winning kick against the Minnesota Vikings with 15 seconds remaining.
For the season now, Bates has made all 14 of his field goal attempts, including 6-of-6 from 40 yards or longer. His only mistake has been one missed extra point among 33 attempts.
The Lions have been weekly staples in the NFC Player of the Week honors. Here’s a full list of Lions players who have been honored this year:
- Week 3: P Jack Fox
- Week 4: QB Jared Goff
- Week 6: S Brian Branch
- Week 7: K Jake Bates
- Week 8: PR Kalif Raymond
- Week 10: K Jake Bates
In addition to those awards, Aidan Hutchinson won NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and Jared Goff was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.
