NOTEBOOK: Vaki impresses in Lions' preseason win over Chiefs

Saturday was the second big-time pressure situation kicker Jake Bates found himself in this week.

It turns out Bates, Scott Daly and assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins made the finals of the Lions Fowling tournament earlier this week but lost in a close final.

“We had this Fowling competition and he’s in the championship and he makes two critical throws in crunch time and there’s something about this kid that’s intriguing,” Campbell said. “He’s got a little bit of confidence to him.”

Bates said after kicking a game-winning 43-yard field goal to walk it off for the Lions against the Chiefs, he tries to stay as even-keeled as possible and never gets too high or too low depending on the situation. Fowling included, he joked. He made all four of his field goals against the Chiefs (55, 23, 32, 43) and was 1-for-2 on extra points.

“It feels good to make kicks,” Bates said after the game. “Obviously, I can’t have that (missed) extra point happen. I can’t put our offense in that situation where they have to go for two in the fourth to tie it. So, just keep getting better and never settling is big. But making kicks is always fun.”