Coach Dan Campbell still amazed at Lions comeback to beat Texans on Sunday night

DETROIT (AP) — Dan Campbell has seen a lot of things as an NFL player and coach.

He had never seen anything like Sunday night, though.

The Lions overcame five interceptions by Jared Goff — one more than he had thrown in the first eight games — and came back to beat the Houston Texans 26-23. They trailed 23-7 at halftime.

“The odds of winning a game with five turnovers are really small,” Campbell said. “This was a total team effort in every phase of the game.”

Kicker Jake Bates made a 58-yard field goal to tie the game in the fourth quarter and a 52-yarder to win it as time expired.

The Lions became the first team since the Atlanta Falcons in 2012 to win despite throwing five interceptions in a game.

Campbell credited the defense, which forced the Texans to kick three field goals in the first half before shutting them out in the second.

“That's so tough for a defense, because they are out there keeping them out of the end zone and then we throw an interception two plays later and they are back on the field,” Campbell said. “That was a huge performance, even before you consider the two takeaways.”

Veteran cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted two C.J. Stroud passes in the second half, including one at the 3-yard line.

“I told C.D. on Saturday that he might be our best acquisition this season,” Campbell said. “How can you not love a cover corner who can run, hit, shut down the running game and pick off two passes when we needed them?”

The Lions run defense dominated the Texans all night. Joe Mixon had an 8-yard touchdown run but finished with just 46 yards on 25 carries.

“We knew he was the most dangerous offensive player we needed to stop,” Campbell said. “He's such a hard runner and he kept coming after us, but we were able to bottle him up.”

Goff hadn't thrown an interception in his past five games. No one was expecting him to throw five, but he had three in the first half and two more in the third quarter — turning the ball over two plays after Davis' first interception and three plays after his second.

“I honestly didn't think I was playing bad,” Goff said. “I was seeing things well and throwing the ball well. I've been in a lot worse positions and I wasn't going to let a few unfortunate mistakes throw me off my game.”

Despite the two third-quarter interceptions, Goff went 8-for-13 for 149 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

Bates started the year kicking at Ford Field, but for the UFL's Michigan Panthers. That helped him get the attention of the Lions by kicking a 64-yard field goal that was negated by a timeout, then making it again.

After a season where Campbell didn't trust his kickers in big moments, Bates has become a significant part of Detroit's record-setting start.

Jameson Williams had 12 combined receptions and rushing attempts for 228 yards in Detroit's first two games, making everyone think he had finally arrived as the big-play threat the Lions needed so badly. However, he's only gotten 12 combined receptions and rushing attempts in the next seven games for 218 yards, including one catch for minus-4 yards on Oct. 20 in Minnesota, followed by his two-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy.

He did have three catches for 53 yards against Houston, but the Lions need him to regain his September form.

TE Sam LaPorta left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, but Campbell doesn't think it will be a long-term problem. OT Taylor Decker missed the game with a shoulder injury. Campbell said he is hopeful both could return Sunday against Jacksonville.

5 — the number of wins the Lions got in a five-game stretch that included road games in Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay and Houston. Their only home game was a victory over Tennessee.

Clean up the turnovers and stay focused on the Jaguars (2-8).

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) celebrates after kicking a 52-yard field goal at the end of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. The Lions won 26-23. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (39) kicks a 52-yard field goal at the end of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. The Lions won 26-23. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. The Lions won 26-23. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates, center, celebrates with teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

LONDON (AP) — Tom Curry returns to England’s team for the rugby test against Japan at Twickenham on Sunday, two weeks after being knocked out while making a tackle against Australia.

It was the flanker’s second significant head injury of the season. Curry was also removed from a club match for Sale in September. He has been concussed five times in the last two years.

Amid growing concerns about brain injuries in rugby, England’s coaches have said they were making adjustments to Curry’s technique around contact in an effort to reduce his concussion risk. Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge insisted this week that every precaution has been taken in Curry’s recovery and the flanker was “100% fit, healthy and ready to go.”

Curry came in on Friday for Chandler Cunningham-South, while the other change saw George Furbank replace Freddie Steward at fullback.

Asher Opoku-Fordjour, a 20-year-old prop, is set to earn his first England senior cap from the bench.

England has lost its last five tests — the national team last lost six in a row in 2006 — but has never lost to Japan. England was Japan's first opponent of the year in June, and lost 52-17 in Tokyo.

“We anticipate a tough challenge from a team that thrives on playing fast and with tempo,” under-pressure England coach Steve Borthwick said.

“Japan are a dangerous team so it’s important that we execute our game plan and maintain focus throughout the full 80 minutes.”

Japan beat Uruguay 36-20 last weekend in Chambery, France, and reverted to a lineup closer to that which met France two weeks ago and lost 52-12 at the Stade de France.

Lock Sanaila Waqa starts in place of Warner Dearns, who was suspended for four games for his red card against Uruguay.

Takuro Matsunaga, the flyhalf against Uruguay, has moved to fullback, and New Zealander Nicholas McCurran, normally a midfielder, will wear the 10 jersey.

Regular flyhalf and captain Harumichi Tatekawa was injured scoring a try against France and returned home.

Japan has been available to media only online this week, and coach Eddie Jones withdrew from announcing the team on Friday because of a cold. Assistant coach Neal Hatley fielded questions and said Jones would be at the game on Sunday.

“Eddie will be there with bells on,” Hatley said. "You've known him long enough to know he's not missing this. It's just a precaution. He'll be fine for the weekend.

“He's unbelievably passionate about improving this Japanese team. He couldn't be more excited about coming to Twickenham. He looks forward to every game.”

Lineups:

England: George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), Ellis Genge. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Nick Isiekwe, Chandler Cunningham-South, Harry Randall, Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck.

Japan: Takuro Matsunaga, Tomoki Osada, Dylan Riley, Siosaia Fifita, Jone Naikabula, Nicholas McCurran, Naoto Saito (captain); Faulua Makisi, Kazuki Himeno, Kanji Shimokawa, Epineri Uluiviti, Sanaila Waqa, Shuhei Takeuchi, Mamoru Harada, Takato Okabe. Reserves: Seunghyuk Lee, Yukio Morikawa, Keijiro Tamefusa, Daichi Akiyama, Tevita Tatafu, Ben Gunter, Shinobu Fujiwara, Yusuke Kajimura.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

England's head coach Steve Borthwick walks on the pitch to watch his players during the warm-up ahead of the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and South Africa, at Twickenham, in London, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

England's Tom Curry on the floor gets a treatment from team doctors during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)