DETROIT — It was the type of kick that always seems to go through the uprights against the . Nobody has ever made a field goal from 68 yards in an NFL game, but when Minnesota’s lined up at that distance on the final play Sunday, there were some nervous folks at Ford Field.”Stranger things Lance McCullers Jersey have happened to us,” Detroit offensive lineman said. “But maybe this is our time. Maybe things are changing.”Walsh’s kick came up short and wide to the left, and Detroit held on for a 16-14 victory over Minnesota.’s 33-yard field goal with 3:38 remaining gave the their first lead of the game, and Detroit withstood two more tense po se sions for the .Detroit (10-4) pulled into a first-place tie in the NFC North with Green Bay, which lost to Buffalo earlier Sunday. The are now agonizingly close to a playoff spot.And agonizing is a pretty good way to describe this latest victory.Detroit spotted Minnesota a 14-0 lead before slowly rallying with the help of two second-quarter interceptions. The have won three in a row, and if the Dallas-Philadelphia game Sunday night does not end in a tie, Detroit can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Chicago next weekend.Minnesota’s was 31 of 41 for 315 yards with a touchdown, and the (6-8) held Detroit to 11 first downs, but after blocked Walsh’s 26-yard field goal attempt with 7:43 left, the drove 65 yards to set up Prater’s third short field goal of the game.Trailing for the first time all day, Robinson Chirinos Jersey the had a good chance to take the lead again after returned the ensuing kickoff to the Minnesota 49. But a holding call pushed the back, and Bridgewater eventually threw incomplete on fourth down.The got the ball again at their 30 with 45 seconds left, but could only make it far enough to set up Walsh’s long attempt at a game winner. Coach decided to go for the field goal instead of a last-ditch pa s.”Either one is kind of a shot in the dark, but Blair has hit 70-yarders in practice before,” Zimmer said. “So I figured Hector Rondon Jersey that was the best chance to win.”But Walsh couldn’t convert. He also mi sed from 53 yards earlier in the game. threw for 153 yards and a touchdown for the .In its last home game of the regular season, Detroit looked flat in the first half, falling behind by two touchdowns and drawing boos from the crowd at Ford Field. The couldn’t manage a first down until the second quarter, on their fifth offensive po se sion. opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run. Bridgewater added an 8-yard TD pa s to in the second quarter, and the were in Detroit territory again when intercepted Bridgewater and returned it 56 yards to the Minnesota 11.”We did everything we could to hurt ourselves in the first half, in every phase, but GQ made a huge play to get us back into the game,” Stafford said.Stafford threw a 7-yard Michael Brantley Jersey touchdown pa s to , and Bridgewater’s next pa s was behind Jennings and intercepted by , giving the the ball at the Minnesota 32.Prater’s field goal made it 14-10 at halftime.Prater, who helped stabilize Detroit’s terrible kicking game when he joined the in October, connected from 30 yards in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one. Jones’ block in the fourth meant Detroit only needed a field goal to take the lead.”I’m not going to apologize for a win, and I hope that none of my players come in here and apologize,” coach said. “This was an important win for us, and I don’t care if we only scored a half-point.”NOTES: The went 7-1 at home during the regular season. The previous time that happened was 1995, when the team still played at the Silverdome. … Bridgewater was sacked 12 times Ryan Pressly Jersey in two games against the this year, including four times Sunday. … Walsh’s career long is 56 yards.Copyright 2014 by The A sociated Pre s