Jake Bates did not just get through Sunday’s 31-30 overtime win over the Saints. He did exactly what Detroit needed from him: he was perfect. One field-goal attempt, four extra-point tries, five clean kicks, no drama. For a kicker trying to steady himself after a rough preseason and a subpar 2025 season, that is the kind of performance that matters more than it might sound at first glance.
The pressure on Bates was always going to be there. In the 2025 season, he converted 27 of 34 field-goal tries and 54 of 56 PATs, which is good work on the surface but not spotless work for a kicker in a high-volume role. The Lions leaned on him heavily last season, and he led all NFL kickers in point-after attempts and makes in Detroit's high-powered offense. That sort of usage gives you value, but it also means every miss lingers a little longer than it should.
So Sunday was important because it was simple. Bates got one field-goal attempt and buried it. He handled all four extra-point tries. In a one-point game, that is not cosmetic. That is the difference between relief and regret. The Lions needed a reliable finish, and Bates delivered one.
Why this was a better sign than the raw numbers suggest
There is still a question hanging over his outlook: can the field-goal percentage climb closer to 90 percent? That is the standard that would make him feel less like a weekly nervy proposition and more like a dependable fantasy and real-life option. Sunday did not answer every question, and it was only one game, but it was the cleanest possible response after an uneven run of form.
That is why this result matters. Not because a kicker should dominate the conversation, but because Detroit's margin for error is thin enough that even a quiet night from Bates becomes a meaningful development. If he starts converting the routine stuff and avoiding the sloppy nights, the Lions have a weapon they can trust. If not, then every close game becomes a little more uncomfortable than it needs to be.
For one Sunday, though, Jake Bates was exactly what the Lions wanted him to be: perfect.
