Jake Bates wins award, helps Detroit Lions make franchise history

After a standout November, kicker Jake Bates has won an award, and in the process Detroit Lions has written franchise history.

Bates was named the league’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the month of November, The NFL announced Thursday.

Bates is the first Lions kicker to win the award since Matt Prater in September of the 2017 campaign, and he is the third Lions kicker to win it in franchise history, joining Prater and Jason Hanson, who won the honor two and five times. .

In the process of Bates winning the award, the Lions has written franchise historymarking the first time Detroit players have won Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Month awards in the same season.

Star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson took the defensive honor in September and quarterback Jared Goff won the offensive award in October.

Bates was signed back in June after a stellar stint in the United Football League and has been phenomenal in his first full season in the NFL. The former Michigan Panthers star has made 19-of-20 field goal attempts and 44-of-45 extra points.

In the month of November, Bates scored 41 points by making all 17 of his extra points and 8-of-9 field goals. One of his game winners came during the month against Houston Texas.

Bates gained notoriety during the 2024 UFL season when he made incredibly long field goals on an almost weekly basis, while also showing a clutch gene with some game-winners. He has shown those traits during his 12 games with the Lions, hitting all five of his 50-plus game-winner field goal attempts.

Bates and the Lions return to action Thursday night for a Week 14 matchup at Ford Field vs Green Bay Packers.

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