Matt Prater drilled a 59-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions posted their first home win after squandering a 21-point lead, edging the Washington Football Team 30-27 on Sunday.
A roughing-the-passer penalty against Washington rookie Chase Young in the closing seconds aided the Lions (4-5), who led 24-3 in the third quarter.
Matthew Stafford passed for 276 yards and three touchdowns, while Marvin Jones caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. D'Andre Swift had a combined 149 yards from scrimmage and hauled in one of Stafford's scoring tosses.
Alex Smith threw for 390 yards for Washington (2-7), while Antonio Gibson rushed for 45 yards and two scores.
Following a three-and-out by the Lions, Washington tied the game at 24-24 with 6:09 remaining on Gibson's second touchdown, a 5-yard carry.
Prater put Detroit back on top with a 37-yard field goal with 2:37 remaining.
Pass interference and holding calls against the Lions allowed Washington to keep its final drive going and Dustin Hopkins drilled a game-tying 41-yard field goal with 16 seconds left.
Detroit jumped to a 17-3 halftime advantage.
The Lions struck first midway through the opening quarter. Marvin Hall was left wide open when cornerback Kendall Fuller fell down and he cruised into the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown.
Washington followed with a nine-play drive that ended with Hopkins' 38-yard field goal.
Stafford's second touchdown pass lifted the Lions to an 11-point lead. He found Jones along the left side on a 27-yard play early in the second quarter.
Detroit then drove 34 yards to set up Prater's 53-yard field goal.
The Lions upped their lead to 24-3 when Swift caught a Stafford pass over the middle and charged into the end zone on a 15-yard hookup midway through the third quarter.
Washington finally showed some signs of life on its next possession, driving 82 yards in 11 plays. J.D. McKissic scored on a 2-yard run after Smith hit Logan Thomas on a fourth-down pass to keep the drive going.
An 11-play, 84-yard drive pulled Washington within one score. Gibson's 2-yard rushing touchdown came with 11:21 remaining.
--Field Level Media