PRO FOOTBALL : Lions’ Hanson Leaves the Falcons in Pain, 31-28 : NFC: Detroit kicker injures leg earlier in game, but comes back to make the winning 37-yard field goal in overtime.

It was a game made for heroes, and several answered the call. The biggest of all was a kicker with a cramp in his leg.

Jason Hanson, in obvious pain, kicked a 37-yard field goal to lift the Detroit Lions to a 31-28 overtime victory over Atlanta, spoiling the coaching debut of the Falcons’ June Jones.

“I’m no hero,” Hanson said Sunday. “These guys play hurt all the time. I’m just glad I was able to help out.”

Chris Spielman, the Lions’ emotional leader, thought the play on which Hanson was injured was bigger than his winning field goal. He got hurt tackling Alton Montgomery on the kickoff following the touchdown that tied the game with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

“We decided to squib the kick. We didn’t want to give them a chance to return it,” said Hanson, who normally buries his kickoffs in the end zone. “But when he turned upfield, I was there and I had to hit him. His knee came down on my shin. It was just a freak thing.”

Perhaps as a result of Hanson’s tackle, Atlanta’s Norm Johnson was forced to try a 52-yard field goal on the final play of regulation. It was wide.

Meanwhile, trainers worked furiously on Hanson’s calf along the sideline.

“I’m just amazed,” he said. “I’d like to see (the field goal) again on film, just to see what it looked like.”

There might have been other heroes:

--Atlanta’s Jeff George, in charge of the Falcons’ run-and-shoot offense for the first time, completed 29 of 37 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.

--The Falcons’ Andre Rison had personal bests with 14 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage tied a team record, the catches fell one shy.

--Detroit’s Scott Mitchell completed 15 of 30 passes for 173 yards, with three touchdowns.

The Lions tied the score, 28-28, on a 15-yard pass play from Mitchell to Anthony Carter.

Montgomery rambled 37 yards with the ensuing kickoff before Hanson brought him down at the Atlanta 44. Two passes to Rison put the Falcons on the Detroit 34 with one second remaining, and Johnson missed.

Detroit’s defense forced the Falcons to punt after three plays in overtime.

“It hurts a lot now, but this team will bounce back,” Rison said. “We go into games trying to win, instead of trying not to lose. That’s a total difference.

“We play the Rams next week. And I’m guaranteeing a win. You can put that out all over the country, I’m guaranteeing we’ll win the game.”