DETROIT — It was somehow fitting in a game like the Lions' 34-31 overtime loss to the Houston Texans that one of the most reliable kickers in NFL history would fail to come through.
Jason Hanson, playing in an NFL-record 20th Thanksgiving Day game, had a chance to win the game in overtime but his 47-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced back.
"It just went right, obviously," Hanson said. "I don't know what to say. Just started right and went right at the upright. It doesn't matter if it hits the upright or goes wide, it's no good."
Had Hanson made the kick, he would have passed Jason Elam for most overtime field goals in NFL history. Instead, they remained tied at nine.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz had another down to play with but elected to have Hanson try it on third down and 11.
"The chance for a turnover is there," Schwartz said. "I wanted to give Jason a chance. I’d give him that chance again."
Schwartz said the snap was a bit low but Hanson wasn't making any excuses.
"If that happens and it's horrible, that's what happens," Hanson said. "But I didn't notice any of that. It's a moot point when it's a straight hold and Nick gets it down. Then it's up to me to get it in."
But unlike his earlier 46-yard field goal at 7:03 of the third quarter, this one didn't go in.
Perhaps it might not have come down to the veteran kicker had another veteran been able to make a play on the Texans' previous possession.
The Texans were backed up to their own 14-yard line when quarterback Matt Schaub threw towards fullback James Casey. The ball smacked defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch in the hands. Had Vanden Bosch caught it, he might have been able to walk into the end zone.
"I don't expect plays like that and it's not something you practice but it's a play I could make and should make," Vanden Bosch said. "It'll be hard (not to think about it)."
Big day for Stafford, Johnson
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson made further headway in the Lions' record book Thursday.
Johnson had nine receptions for 188 yards, giving him 1,257 yards for the season.
Johnson stands with only Herman Moore as the only players in team history with three 1,200-yard-plus receiving seasons. Moore had three straight seasons of 1,200 yards or more from 1995-97. Johnson also had 1,200 or more yards in 2008 and 2011.
Johnson also joined elite company in NFL history, becoming the fifth player to reach 7,000 yards in 87 games or fewer. Also on the list are Lance Allworth (72), Torry Hold (82), Randy Moss (83) and Jerry Rice (83).
Stafford had 31 completions for 441 yards, joining Kurt Warner as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach 11,000 yards in 40 or fewer games.
Stafford has 11,269 yards in his first 40 games. Warner had 11,457 in 40 games.
Stafford also passed 3,000 yards for the season, doing so in 11 games, a franchise record.
He is the fourth quarterback in team history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season twice and second to do so in back-to-back seasons. Jon Kitna did it in 2006-07.
Broyles, Rieff get opportunities
With left tackle Jeff Backus out with a hamstring injury, ending his streak at 186 consecutive starts, rookie Riley Rieff got a chance to start.
Also inactive was receiver Titus Young, meaning rookie Ryan Broyles got an opportunity to play more.
Broyles had six receptions for 126 yards.
"They did good," tight end Tony Scheffler said. "It was fun watching Broyles kind of break out and do his thing. He's really talented. I didn't see much of Riley. I think he did pretty well. It's fun seeing guys like that step up and get the opportunity to make plays. I'm happy for them."
Scheffler says he's OK
Scheffler appeared to injure his left hand late in the game and was taken for X-rays afterward.
"I just dislocated a finger," Scheffler said. "I'm good. Popped it back in."
Scheffler said he'd be ready to play Dec. 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.
