Playoffs Showing Lions Have to Take Jake Bates Concerns Seriously
Although the Detroit Lions missed the playoffs, there are still important takeaways to be drawn from how the postseason has unfolded. In the opening round, the Philadelphia Eagles were put in a difficult position after a missed extra point by Jake Elliott forced them to attempt a late fourth-and-long despite being well within field-goal range. Once considered dependable, Elliott struggled throughout the 2025 season, yet Philadelphia chose to enter the playoffs without a backup plan at kicker.
The Green Bay Packers faced a similar issue. Brandon McManus endured inconsistency during the regular season and then unraveled in the playoffs. His missed field goals and failed extra point played a major role in Green Bay blowing an 18-point second-half lead against the Chicago Bears, drastically altering the outcome of the game and erasing what had been a strong start.
Those situations offer a clear warning for Detroit as it evaluates the future of kicker Jake Bates. While there’s no immediate reason to move on from him, his uneven performance this season has raised legitimate questions about whether he should remain the unquestioned option moving forward.
As the playoffs highlight how costly special teams mistakes can be, the Lions’ front office may be rethinking its approach at kicker, weighing whether competition or added insurance is necessary heading into next season.
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