Chicago Bears (4-11) – Detroit Lions (13-2): 17-34
Logical outcome, but still tragic for the Bears. Still well ahead of the Lions, the men of interim coach Thomas Brown were no match… But also made many costly mistakes. In this case, the Bears committed two very costly fumbles at the start of the game which quickly sealed the outcome of the match.
Despite the absence of David Montgomery, the Lions remain as effective offensively as ever with 34 points scored. Particularly thanks to Jared Goff (23/32, 336 yards, 3 TDs) and Jahmyr Gibbs (23 races, 109 yards, 1 TD). And the key is a 13th victory this season: a record in the history of the franchise. Detroit is getting closer and closer to its bye week before starting the playoffs.
For Chicago, on the other hand, everything remains quite messy. If this meeting was without challenge to the extent that the team is already deprived of the playoffs, Caleb Williams (26/40, 332 yards, 2 TD) remained too imprecise. The other black point of the day was certainly the defense which was unable to do anything against the Lions armada.
Costly fumbles for the Bears
Slow start for both teams. After an entry punt for the Bears, the Lions opened the scoring with a field goal from Jake Bates (0-3). However, the intensity suddenly increased a few minutes later after a fumble by Caleb Williams. The rookie drops the ball during a transmission to his runner on his 38 yards.
Joshua Paschal immediately recovers and Jahmyr Gibbs finishes immediately with a one-yard run (0-10). The Bears, for their part, are sinking a little further. After a reception, Rome Odunze releases the ball on the opposing 40 yard line. The Lions are recovering, again. And Bates converts another easy field goal.
While the Bears struggled, Jared Goff increased his team's lead with an 82-yard missile to Jameson Williams. In response, Chicago offered its first points after a long drive thanks to a short pass from Caleb Williams to Cole Kmet (7-20).
Nothing to slow down Detroit. On the contrary ! Dan Campbell's men add 7 points just behind with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams, however, reduced the score before the break with a superb 45-yard pass to Keenan Allen (14-27). The Lions attempt a final 65-yard field goal but return to the locker room empty-handed.
The Lions unfold in complete peace
After halftime, Detroit kept up the pressure. Jared Goff quickly finds Sam LaPorta in the paint to maintain a comfortable advantage. Chicago responds with a 30-yard field goal (17-34).
And then, the Bears finally manage to stop the Lions! Out of 4th attempt, the local defense regains possession. But the Bears are finally forced to punt after a saving sack from the Lions defense on 3th attempt.
At the end of the game, Caleb Williams approaches the end zone to maintain his slim chances of victory. Except that the Lions defense holds the house and gives the ball back to its team on a 4th attempt blocked. Jared Goff and his team just have to let the clock tick down quietly to end the meeting.
