Jake Bates nails clutch field goal to send Lions vs. Rams into overtime

In what was the first NFL game of his career, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates came up huge in the Week 1 contests against the Los Angeles Rams . Bates got his feet wet in the second quarter by making the first field goal of his career from 26 yards out. But that attempted paled in comparison to what Bates faced later in the contest.

In the fourth quarter with the Lions trailing 20-17, Detroit drove down the field with under two minutes remaining before the offense stalled in Rams territory. But the Lions were well within Bates' range, giving the former UFL star a shot to tie the game and send it into overtime — and the young kicker delivered from 32 yards out. Jake Bates ties the game in the final minute! #NFL pic.

twitter.com/8Ql11XksN9 Talk about coming through in the clutch. Granted, it was a short field goal, but even a 32-yarder can feel like a million miles away in the kind of pressure-packed situation Bates was in.

The Lions signed Bates back in June and originally planned on having him compete with Michael Badgley for the starting job before the veteran kicker suffered a season-ending injury. But the Lions didn't bring in another kicker to compete with Bates, showing full faith in the former Michigan Panthers star. So far, that faith is paying off, but there's a long way to go before Bates cements himself as the long-term solution in Detroit.

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