When people talk about the Detroit Lions’ success this season, names like Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown usually dominate the conversation. But two of the Lions’ unsung heroes are making waves in a surprising way — kicker Jake Bates and punter Jack Fox both lead the NFL in an unexpected statistical category.
Bates, who joined Detroit as an intriguing newcomer, has been nearly automatic when it matters most, consistently drilling long-range field goals with confidence. Meanwhile, Fox continues to show why he’s one of the league’s premier punters, flipping the field with pinpoint accuracy and booming kicks that leave opponents deep in their own territory. Together, the duo has quietly given the Lions a massive edge in the hidden third phase of the game — special teams.
Their consistency and control have been crucial to Detroit’s rise as one of the NFC’s most complete teams. While the offense and defense get most of the spotlight, Bates and Fox are proving that sometimes, it’s the specialists who make the difference between good teams and great ones.
The Lions’ special teams aren’t just solid — they’re elite, and these two players are leading the charge in a way no one saw coming.
Nobody Saw This Coming: Jake Bates and Jack Fox Top the League in Shocking Stat
