NFL Overreactions Week 8: Raiders, Jets Worse Teams

NFL Overreactions Week 8: Raiders, Jets Established As Worst Teams

Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) is congratulated by teammate Larry Fitzgerald after catching a fourth quarter touchdown pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 26, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates with teammates Rob Sims (67) and Travis Swanson (64) and Jordan Thompson (82) and Sam Martin (6) and Kellen Davis (89) and Riley Reiff (71) after kicking a 48-yard field goal with no time remaining against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. The Lions defeated the Falcons 22-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Lions roar back in London, look like solid playoff team in win

The only ones who believed that Detroit had a chance to come back down 21-0 at halftime to the Falcons in London were the Detroit Lions themselves, and maybe a few fans. (By few, meaning less than 10.)

However Detroit’s 22-point second half comeback Sunday was capped by Matt Prater’s 48-yard field goal, pushing the Lions to 6-2 on the season as Detroit beat Atlanta 22-21.

The kicker with the game-winning field goal (pun intended) was the fact that: a) it almost didn’t happen and b) Prater missed the original kick.

“I knew Prater was going to make it. I played two years with him before,”Lions corner Cassius Vaughn said. “When he missed the first one I was like, ‘That was just the practice swing.’ The second one was cake.”

Prater had a chance from 43-yards out, however the original kick was called dead due to a delay-of-game penalty. After Stafford led the Lions from their own 7-yard line to the Falcons 26-yard line in the final 1:30 to set up the kick, the delay of game penalty nearly crushed him. Stafford thought that the penalty was a 10-second-runoff, however since it was a dead play, there was no run-off and Prater got a second chance at the kick from 48-yards out.

“Man, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know what I felt,” defensive end Ezekiel Ansah said. “I thought we lost the game for a second.”

“That’s as high and as low and as high again as I’ve been on a football field,” Stafford said. “It was fantastic.”

The win marked Detroit’s second comeback win in as many weeks. Detroit rallied back to beat New Orleans last week. The loss for Atlanta marks the biggest blown halftime lead in franchise history.

Detroit currently sits atop the NFC North after the Packers lost to the Saints on Sunday night and could extend their current three-game winning streak when they take on the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 9. The two games after will be the true test, as the Lions take on a surging NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals followed by a game against Tom Brady and the Patriots.

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