Jaylen Warren, Steelers hold off Lions in wild finish
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Jaylen Warren rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, Kenneth Gainwell caught a highlight-reel touchdown pass, and the Pittsburgh Steelers escaped with a 29-24 win over the host Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 41 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh (9-6), which won its third game in a row. The Steelers guaranteed that they will not have a losing record in the regular season, extending a streak that started in 2004.
Jared Goff completed 34 of 54 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns for Detroit (8-7). Isaac TeSlaa, Kalif Raymond and Jahmyr Gibbs caught one touchdown apiece.
The game ended with a bizarre sequence as Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown was called for offensive pass interference, which negated what would have been a winning touchdown as time expired. Referees huddled for several minutes before announcing the final call.
The Steelers opened the scoring early in the first quarter. Chris Boswell boomed a 59-yard kick through the uprights.
Detroit pulled even at 3-all on Jake Bates' 36-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the half.
The Lions grabbed a 10-3 lead with 1:55 remaining in the half. Goff ripped a pass over the middle to TeSlaa, who held on despite a big hit for a 20-yard touchdown.
A wild play allowed the Steelers to even the score at 10-all with 2 seconds to go in the half. Gainwell caught a high-arcing pass while falling down inside the Lions' 15-yard line, and he popped to his feet and sprinted to the end zone before the defense could react for a 45-yard score.
The Pittsburgh defense got on the scoreboard early in the third quarter. Safety Kyle Dugger sacked Goff in the end zone for a safety to make it 12-10 in favor of the Steelers.
A 23-yard field goal by Boswell made it 15-10 for Pittsburgh with 14:58 left.
The Steelers' hot stretch continued as Warren broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run with 12:23 remaining. He took a toss left and outraced the Lions defense to make it 22-10.
Goff helped the Lions cut the deficit to 22-17 on the next possession. He tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Raymond with 8:39 to play.
Warren responded with his second 45-yard rushing touchdown of the afternoon. He bounced toward the left sideline and flashed his speed again to make it 29-17.
Goff found Gibbs for a 4-yard touchdown to pull the Lions within 29-24 with 4:11 remaining.
--Field Level Media
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