Jake Bates Today: After 59-Yard Heroics, Lions’ Kicker Steps Into Thanksgiving Spotlight

Detroit’s latest cult hero isn’t a running back or edge rusher. It’s Jake Bates, the booming-leg kicker who tied Sunday’s game with a 59-yard field goal and set the stage for an overtime win. Four days later, Bates is back under bright lights on Thanksgiving, with Detroit’s margin for error in the playoff race razor-thin and special teams suddenly a weekly swing factor.

The 59-yarder that changed the temperature in Detroit

Bates’ late equalizer on Sunday did more than save a game—it reset a narrative. After a bumpy midseason stretch that featured a couple of misses/blocks, he delivered a perfect day when the Lions needed it most, drilling both field-goal attempts and all four extra points. The 59-yard kick matched a franchise benchmark and showcased exactly why Detroit invested in a big-leg specialist: end-of-half and end-of-game scenarios tilt when the scoring range starts at midfield.

What made the make so impressive:

• Trajectory & carry: A flat, rising ball that held its line through late drift—hallmark of elite leg speed.

• Operation under pressure: Clean snap/hold and an even tempo; no rush to the spot despite the clock.

• Confidence call: Detroit’s staff trusted him from near the logo, an aggressive choice that’s becoming part of this team’s DNA.

Thanksgiving stage: what to expect from Jake Bates vs. Green Bay

Detroit’s holiday game often comes down to hidden yards and special teams. Bates’ profile gives the Lions two edges:

• Field position: Kickoffs with consistent hang/time-to-the-goal line compress return lanes. Expect directional kicks to the corners to pin the Packers’ return unit.

• Fourth-down calculus: Anything inside the opponent’s 42 can become scoring position. That widens play-calling on third down, since a short gain still yields a high-percentage attempt.

Weather matters in late November, but Ford Field’s controlled environment means distance is on the table. If drives stall, Detroit can still walk away with points from long range, a critical lever in lower-variance holiday games.

From UFL thunderfoot to NFL closer

Bates’ rise remains one of 2025’s best football stories. Twelve months ago he was terrifying UFL uprights with 60-plus missiles; now he’s translating that power to tighter NFL operations. The biggest growth areas since spring:

• Rhythm over raw power: Shortening the approach and syncing the snap-to-strike window has lifted repeatability.

• Situational mastery: End-of-half management, hash preference under pressure, and wind-aware ball flights indoors vs. outdoors.

• Mental game: Short memory after misses, and a routine that travels—vital for December road trips.

Why Bates changes Detroit’s offensive math

Detroit’s offense loves to live in plus territory with play-action and perimeter shots. Bates expands that plan:

• More productive “empty” plays: A sack or run stuff at the 38–42 doesn’t kill a drive if three points remain live.

• Aggressive first-down calls: Knowing a 55–60 is realistic frees coordinators to hunt explosives on early downs.

• Clock leverage: End-of-half sequences can start earlier; two throws to the sideline and a spike can be enough.

Fantasy & betting lens (Thanksgiving edition)

• Fantasy startability: Bates profiles as a top-12 kicker this week in a dome with a narrow spread—ideal for multiple attempts and PAT volume.

• Props angle: Longest field goal over is live whenever the kicker owns 55-plus range indoors; monitor pregame reports for any late operational changes.

• Live-bet nuance: One early Detroit stop near midfield can flip win-probability if it converts into a 50-plus make—factor that into in-game totals.

The road ahead: consistency is the currency

Detroit’s postseason path likely runs through several one-score scripts. For Bates, the mission is simple and unforgiving: stack routine makes so that the outlier bombs remain the story’s spice, not the staple. The Lions’ coverage teams and operation (snap/hold) have tightened in recent weeks; maintaining that cohesion through December is what turns a hot moment into a reliable weapon.

After a 59-yard, game-tying laser and a perfect afternoon, Jake Bates enters Thanksgiving as a legitimate difference-maker for Detroit. In a dome, with playoff stakes and a defense comfortable in grind-it-out games, his leg widens the Lions’ playbook—and could once again decide the day.