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Jake Bates kicks winner as Detroit Lions improve to 8-1

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HOUSTON -- Nineteen months ago, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates was training to be a brick salesman in Houston at the Acme Brick company and thought his NFL dream was over. On Sunday night, he celebrated a 52-yard, walk-off field goal to help the Lions overcome a 16-point deficit to beat the Texans, 26-23.

"I just don't deserve this. I was a soccer player growing up, I idolized footba ll players in the NFL and all that stuff and just to be here is surreal," said Bates, who spent last season with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL.