By Sunday 
When people talk about the Detroit Lions’ rise in the NFC North, names like Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, or even Sam LaPorta usually dominate the headlines. But if you’ve been paying close attention to how the Lions pull off gritty wins and clutch finishes, you know there’s a hidden force powering this team—special teams.
And at the heart of it all? Kicker Jake Bates and punter Jack Fox, two low-key game changers whose impact on Detroit’s success goes way beyond stats.
The Bates Breakthrough
Let’s rewind to early 2024. The Lions were still licking their wounds from years of inconsistency at kicker since Matt Prater left town. Enter Jake Bates, a name mostly familiar to fans of the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. But Bates didn’t just show up—he showed out.
Long bombs, calm-under-pressure kicks, and a fearless approach made him impossible to ignore. Sure, he had a few hiccups in training camp. Who doesn’t? But when the lights came on and the pressure turned up, Bates delivered.
Clutch game-winners against the Vikings, Texans, and Packers stamped his value in ink. By season’s end, not only did he earn a spot on the All-NFC North Team, he also gave Dan Campbell something he desperately needed: trust in fourth-down decision-making.
“He seems to give the Lions a sense of stability that’s been missing since Prater,” Lions OnSI’s John Maakaron wrote—and he nailed it.
Fox Still Flying
Then there’s Jack Fox—quietly the best punter in football. In 2024, he led the league with 51.0 yards per punt and set a career-high in net yards per boot. That’s field-flipping magic that makes life easier for the defense, especially when games come down to a single possession.
Fox doesn’t get flashy headlines, but he’s racking up Pro Bowl honors and First Team All-Pro recognition like it’s nothing. And maybe that’s the best part about him—he just does the job, better than almost anyone.
The Underappreciated Game-Changers
Special teams rarely get top billing, but in Detroit, they’ve become the X-factor. Whether it’s flipping the field with Fox’s booming punts or snatching wins with Bates’ ice-cold leg, this duo has quietly rewritten what special teams can mean to a contender.
It’s not just about kicking and punting. It’s about giving a team confidence to lean into tight-game moments, knowing you have weapons most franchises overlook.
So the next time you watch the Lions line up on fourth and long—or trail by two with seconds left—just remember: it’s probably Bates or Fox time. And that’s a good thing for Detroit.