The Michigan Panthers and Birmingham Stallions squared off in what was a preview of their playoff game next week and the contest saw kicker Jake Bates misfire on a potential game-winning field goal.

Bates entered the game 15-of-19 on the season but missed one field goal in each of the previous two games. After missing a 51-yarder in Week 8 against the Memphis Showboats, the Panthers kicker missed a chip-shot 39-yard attempt against the Houston Roughnecks in Week 9.

With Bates and the Panthers down 20-19 in the closing seconds, the kicker had a 53-yard attempt in front of him but missed it very wide right. It was Bates’ fourth miss at an outdoor venue this season.

HE MISSED 😱

The Stallions survive! 🐎 pic.twitter.com/cLXHm1FjPE

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— United Football League (@TheUFL) June 1, 2024

Bates did hit a pair of field goals in the contest, with the first coming in the first quarter from 39 yards out to put Michigan on the board.

JAKE THE GREAT ‼️ @jakebates30

We are on the board! pic.twitter.com/RKqzehbvPt

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) June 1, 2024

Then, in the fourth quarter, Bates hit a 44-yard try.

JAKE THE GREAT AGAIN! 🔥@jakebates30 knocks through the 44-yard FG! pic.twitter.com/Js0fGu8T2T

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) June 1, 2024

Both teams will look ahead to their matchup next week in the USFL Conference Championship Game on June 8. The game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN Xtra on SiriusXM.

As for Bates, he finishes the regular season with a 77.2% success rate (17-of-22). Six of his makes came from 50-plus yards, and three of those were from 60 or longer. Of his five misses, four of them were from 50-plus yards.

Bates has reportedly drawn interest from NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions. It remains to be seen if he’ll have as much interest as he had earlier in the offseason, but chances are he’ll get a look from some team.

Fortunately for all supporters of the Detroit Pistons, the Troy Weaver era has mercifully come to an end.

Weaver’s disastrous tenure running the Pistons reminded fans in Detroit of the failed era of former NFL linebacker and television broadcaster Matt Millen, whose eight-year tenure (2001-2008) as general manager of the Detroit Lions led to the worst eight-year record in the modern NFL history (31–84).

In four disappointing seasons in Mown, Weaver amassed an abysmal record of 74-244 (.233), which is the eighth-worst tenure in NBA history, according to Basketball Reference.

It would have been inconceivable four years ago that Weaver would end up with a worse winning percentage than Millen. After the news broke Weaver was let go, fans rejoiced and reflected on just how poor and irrelevant the Pistons have been the past four years.

Awful draft picks, a hyper-focus on adding reclamation projects and assembling a team that fit together as well as a round peg in a square hole doomed Weaver in Motown.

At least the Lions didn’t bother to offer Millen a role as a scout when he was dismissed back in 2008.

Trajan Langon officially hired

The Pistons now turn to new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon, who was officially announced as the team’s next front office leader.

“It’s an honor for me to join the Detroit Pistons and I’m excited for the opportunity,” said Langdon in a released statement. “I have spent considerable time with Tom (Gores) over the past few weeks and am fully aligned with his expectations for the challenge ahead. The work starts immediately, and I appreciate Tom giving me the opportunity to build on the foundation that has been laid and help this team compete at the highest level.  There is great tradition and history associated with this franchise.  I’m excited to build on that for everyone associated with the organization and the passionate sports fans of Detroit.”

Additional reading

1.) Dan Campbell Explains When ‘Sacks Aren’t That Big of a Deal’

2.) Lions Sign Ennis Rakestraw to Rookie Contract

3.) Sam LaPorta: Lions Taking Everything ‘Really Serious’

4.) Lions OTA 5 Takeaways: Defense Not Backing Down