DETROIT (AP) — When Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell took a shocking gamble against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, he did it knowing he had an ace up his sleeve.
Jared Goff.
Goff is having the best season of his career, and Campbell took that into account when he decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Lions 24 with 4:53 left in a tie game.
“I believed we were going to get it, but I knew what we were conceding if we don't,” Campbell said Monday. “I knew without any doubt — any question — that we were getting the ball back with time to answer and rebut whatever they had done.”
The fourth-down play was a disaster, with Green Bay cornerback Keisean Nixon slicing through the line to drop Jahmyr Gibbs for a 2-yard loss.
With the Packers getting the ball on the Detroit 22, Campbell trusted Goff to either match or beat whatever Green Bay did over the next few moments.
As it turned out, the Packers didn't do much. Josh Jacobs couldn't pull in what would have been a 17-yard touchdown pass on third down. That brought out the field goal team, and the Lions' D.J. Wonnum blocked Trey Smack's 35-yard attempt.
“Field goals from there are pretty high-percentage, so to miss that fourth-down conversion and get the ball back with no harm, no foul is awesome,” Goff said. “Hats off to our defense and D.J. for the block.”
After Gibbs gained 2 yards on first down, Goff hit Sam LaPorta for 18 yards, and the Lions picked up 15 more yards on a roughing-the-passer call.
Goff didn't need to throw another pass as the Lions ran down the clock, but he did get Karl Brooks to jump offside on third-and-5 at the Green Bay 20. That, and some gymnastics by Gibbs to avoid scoring a touchdown, set up Jake Bates' winning field goal as time expired.
Goff finished 22 of 32 for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He has 14 TD passes and zero interceptions, matching Russell Wilson in 2019 for the most TD passes without a pick over the first six games.
“He’s just playing at such a high level, continues to play at such a high level,” Campbell said. “It’s like, how do you not put it in his hands more than we are? I mean, how do you not?”
The Lions defense, which was a major issue over the first four weeks, has improved to where it can accurately be called mediocre. In the last two games — wins over the Cardinals and Packers — the Lions have cut their average yards allowed from 426 to 326, including just 58 rushing. Detroit has six sacks and two interceptions over that span.
It's still not great — the Lions gave up five TD passes and have given opposing quarterbacks 16 in six games — but it's trending upward.
As good as Gibbs has been — he had 143 yards on 34 touches on Sunday — the offensive line is forcing him to dodge tacklers before he even gets to the line of scrimmage.
On the possession that ended with the failed fourth-down attempt, Detroit faced second-and-1 at the 24, but Gibbs rushed for no gain and caught a pass for no gain before the 2-yard loss on fourth down.
“That's going to get better, and I'm going to keep harping on it, because it has to get better,” Campbell said. “We have to eliminate those plays, because you just have to give Gibbs a sliver, and he's gone.”
After a slow start to the season, Jameson Williams was spectacular against the Packers. He caught five passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including 48 yards after the catch.
Center Cade Mays, one of Detroit's biggest free-agent signings last summer, made his Lions debut Sunday after missing the first five games with a wrist injury.
The Lions lost two fumbles and he was involved in both — accidentally punching the ball out of Gibbs' hands and not connecting with Goff on a snap. He also had missed blocks that led to some of Gibbs' tough runs.
“I wasn’t naive,” he said. “I knew there would be rust to knock off, and obviously game shape is different than practice shape. It’s going to get better every week.”
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. missed time with ankle injuries, and Campbell expects them to miss practice on Wednesday, but thinks both will play Sunday against Minnesota.
135 — The number of yards picked up by Lions receivers after their 22 receptions on Sunday. When Goff is at his best, he's hitting his targets in stride with room to run.
The Lions are 4-2, but they'll need to clean up their blocking and fix some defensive issues before hosting the 6-0 Vikings on Sunday. They can't count on Minnesota to miss two short field goals and turn the ball over on downs in the red zone like the Packers did.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams celebrates after catching a pass for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kiah Stokes kept swatting shots on the interior, while Veronica Burton disrupted the Dream with her own quick hands to alter shots.
And that crazed, violet-clad “Ballhalla” home crowd roared at every chance — watching the Golden State Valkyries move one win away from a championship in their second season with a 64-55 victory against Atlanta in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night.
Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Burton contributed a nearly identical stat line with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots as Golden State got defensive once more to shut down Angel Reese and the Dream.
The Valkyries have leaned on Stokes' steady presence and postseason experience during this remarkable run.
“We’re not here without Kiah,” Burton said. “Every single day, every single game, from the beginning. Just her veteran experience as well. It's more than just defense.”
Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists — a big difference from her two standout performances in the first two games of the series at Chase Center. Reese shook her head when whistled for the second of her three offensive fouls with 7:43 to play.
“I still believe in our team, I still believe we can win this,” Reese said.
Fans screamed and clapped thunder sticks following the final buzzer as Stokes spoke from the floor to chants of “MVP!”
“We appreciate you,” a smiling Stokes said. “We got one more.”
On a night leading scorer Gabby Williams struggled to find her shooting touch, Golden State found that “strength in numbers” mantra coach Natalie Nakase has praised all season long and everybody made an impact. Veronica Burton had 13 points, eight rebounds and her postseason-best four blocks — tying Diana Taurasi in 2009 for most by a guard in a Finals game.
On Saturday, Nakase had changed up her lineup for a 67-62 Game 4 win by inserting Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the starting five. She stayed with those two Monday night, and it worked again. Hayes, who played 10 seasons for Atlanta and came out of retirement two years ago, had 12 points — and Nakase has said she wants to win it all for the veteran guard.
Williams began 2 for 11 and missed all four of her three 3-point tries, but she converted a three-point play with 9:08 remaining put the Valkyries ahead 49-42 and finished with nine points on 3-for-14 shooting and six rebounds.
Atlanta will now try to stave off elimination at home Thursday in Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 back here at Chase Center on Saturday. The Dream hurt themselves with 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for Golden State.
“Nothing’s changed, we win two games we’re champions,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said.
Stokes hit a key 3-pointer with 2:46 to go in the third quarter and another with 7:21 left in the game, which ignited chants of “Ki-ah! Ki-ah!” from the rocking, rally-towel waving sellout crowd at Chase Center.
“It feels pretty special,” she said. “I always know what I brought to a team, I always understood my value but just to hear an arena full of 18,000 fans it just really makes me feel appreciated and loved.”
Stokes has recorded three or more blocks in six straight games, tying her with Lisa Leslie in 2003 for the longest such streak in a single WNBA postseason.
The Valkyries used a dominant second half after they led 25-22 at the break, the lowest scoring first half combined score in WNBA Finals history.
Rhyne Howard’s three-point play with 4:59 left in the third pulled Atlanta within 34-31, but after that it was Stokes, Burton and the Valkyries coming up with all the crucial plays on both ends.
"That’s just been our staple all season, we really rely on our defense,” Stokes said.
Golden State owner Joe Lacob promised a championship within five years in a bold declaration when the expansion franchise was granted to the Bay Area three years ago, yet this season has exceeded even what he could have envisioned.
Neither team could find a flow from 3-point range in the first half as they combined to shoot 5 for 29 from deep — 3 of 16 by Golden State and 2 for 13 by Atlanta.
Earlier Monday, the league announced Game 6 would be played at 17,000-seat State Farm Arena in Atlanta starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday — a time when many fans on both coasts will be working.
“I’d like to see it be a national holiday for all WNBA championship games so whatever somebody can do,” Smesko said. “I hope everybody gets to see it somehow and I know that for some people it’s not realistic, they have jobs and won’t be able to make it. So I’m disappointed for that but I’m really hopeful that as many people can see the game as possible.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrates after scoring next to Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) celebrates with teammates after their victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) celebrates with guard Tiffany Hayes (15), forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24), forward Gabby Williams (1) and guard Veronica Burton (22) after the team's victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Media surround Golden State Valkyries players following a victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrates with guard Veronica Burton (22) after scoring against Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) during the second half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, middle, holds onto the ball against Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) and forward Naz Hillmon during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reaches for the ball next to Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) drives to the basket against Atlanta Dream guard DeWanna Bonner (24) during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates with guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) and guard Allisha Gray, right, during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) shoots against Atlanta Dream guard Isobel Borlase (20) during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) hugs Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles (6) after Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) attempts to shoot against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the second half during Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) high fives fans after Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Streamers fall from the rafters following the Golden State Valkyries victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (Dan Hernandez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
