By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
After Detroit had their 11 game winning streak broken up by Buffalo at Ford Field, Detroit had to quickly regroup after losing three starters for the season and have a glimmer of hope of getting Carlton Davis III back for the playoffs and the same goes for running back David Montgomery. The Lions used the waiver claims to get practice players from other teams to Detroit and the Lions promoted players off of their own practice squad. Detroit also activated Ifeatu Melifonwu off of the IR and he sees his first action of the season. To the game.
1st Quarter
The Chicago Bears take the opening kickoff and quickly go three and out using only 1:00. After a short Bears put, Detroit takes over at their own 34-yard-line. Jameson Williams catches a 13-yard catch and is called for taunting Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson is the same player who had a dustup with Jaymo during the Thanksgiving game. In second down, Goff finds Sam LaPorta for a sideline rollout and a 17-yard first down catch. Goff goes to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 28 yards to the Chicago 19. Jahmyr Gibbs runs twice for eight yards but on 3rd down, Goff dirts it with no one open. Detroit kicks the field goal. Jake Bates 30 Yd Field Goal. 9 plays, 55 yards, 4:14. Key Play: St. Brown 28-yard catch. Detroit 3- Chicago 0.
The Bears are looking to move the football, but on first and five after a Lions offsides call, Rome Udunze fumbles the toss from QB Caleb Williams and Detroit’s Josh Paschal recovers. Detroit goes to work with a Goff completion to Gibbs for 23 yards. Two plays later, Gibbs runs for eight yards to the Bears one foot line. Gibbs is stuffed on three straight runs and the third time results in a Detroit one yard TD. Its Gibbs 15th TD of the season (12 rushing). Jahmyr Gibbs 1 Yd Rush (Jake Bates Kick) Drive 7 plays, 36 yards, 2:53. Key play, the Paschal recovered fumble. Lions 10- Bears zip.
The Bears third offensive possession has went much better as they moved the sticks twice. Then a swing pass to Rome Udunze results in a fumble for the second time in the game. The Lions recover.
The Lions go to the air at their own 40 and Goff hits J. Williams for 17 yards and Gibbs runs for 23 more on two straight runs. LaPorta catches a pass over the middle from Goff for five yards. The Lions have a 4th and six and settle for a FG. Jake Bates 34 Yd Field Goal. 7 plays, 44 yards, 3:26 Key Plays are the Gibbs B2B runs.
End of the Quarter- Second Quarter
Williams completes a 21 yard pass to Keenan Allen to finish the first quarter. The Bears commit a holding penalty on first down and Williams has two incompletions before hitting Swift for ten yards. The Bears punt.
Detroit goes to work with Gibbs running left side for 11 yards. Then, the Goff Bomb to J. Williams. 1st & 10 at DET 18. (12:49 – 2nd) J.Goff pass deep middle to Ja.Williams for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Bates extra point is GOOD, Center-H.Hatten, Holder-J.Fox. Lions 20- Bears Zip.
With the Lions scoring on their first four drives, the Bears are still not down by three scores. Odunze catches a pass for 15 yards. After a Chi. penalty, D’Andre Swift catches a swing pass and he rumbles for 13 yards. The Bears on 4th and three, go for it and Udunze runs a crossing pattern and hauls the pass in for a first down on the Detroit 18. A 14 yard reception to DJ Moore gets the Bears close and Williams hits Cole Kmet for a 4-yard TD catch. Cole Kmet 1 Yd pass from Caleb Williams (Cairo Santos Kick) Drive14 plays, 70 yards, 6:18 Detroit 20- Chicago 7.
Detroit, up by 13, uses a heavy dose of Gibbs both running and receiving to move the chains twice. At the Chicago 31, Gibbs, on the Game opened the game with 17 touches for 117 yards and a TD. His third down run was short and Detroit goes for it on 4th and two and the Bears go offside. Detroit has it 1st and ten on the ChiTown 20. A misdirection rollout by Goff finds him looking for J. Williams who picks up 14 to the Bear six. Gibbs runs two suicide plays up the middle for no gain. On third down, the offensive line of Taylor Decker and a blocking WR Tim Patrick runs interference and St. Brown scores. Amon-Ra St. Brown 8 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick) 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:33. Key play, The TD Pass on third down. Lions 27- Chicago 7.
In the final minute of the half, C. Williams finds Moore for 25 yards and Chicago is looking for points. Williams finds Keenan Allen for 45 yards and a TD. The Lions secondary looked poor on this drive.0:39 – 2nd) (Shotgun) C.Williams pass deep right to K.Allen for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-S.Daly, Holder-T.Taylor. Key Play: The TD Pass. Lions 27- Bears 14.
The Lions gain marginal yardage in the final minute of the half and Detroit sends Jake Bates to kick a 65 yard FG. It was long enough, but wide.
Halftime- Key Stats
Detroit- 327 yards of offense including J. Goff 16-21 254 yards and 2TD’s.
Chicago: Only 27 rushing yards in the first half
Third Quarter
Detroit deferred before the game and takes the second half kickoff. J. Williams catches a 25 yard pass from Goff to open the half. Gibbs runs twice for a second first down. Then Goff stumbles after the snack and he goes for the endzone and LaPorta hauls it in for a TD reception. Sam LaPorta 21 Yd pass from Jared Goff (Jake Bates Kick). Drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:42. Key play, the J. Williams grab to open the half.
The Bears start their second half on offense stumbling but on 4th down, C. Williams hits Udonze with a 30-yard pass on fourth down. The Bears are on the Lions 14 but a Swift TFL for -2 and a Williams five-yard scramble leaves them short. The Bears kick the 30 yard field goal. Lions 34- Bears 17. Cairo Santos 30 Yd Field Goal. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 6:15.
The Lions late 3rd quarter drive starts slow and after Goff is ruled sacked after he tripped, a third and 17 pass short and over the middle gives St. Brown a 17-yard first down grab. Craig Reynolds goes for a first down run. With the Lions on the Bears first and 10 on the 20, Reynolds and Gibbs run for short yardage to run out the quarter.
Key Stat: Detroit Gibbs with 145 total yards and a TD.
After 3- Lions 34- Bears 17.
4th Quarter
The Lions pass on third and three and the throw is incomplete. On fourth and three, the Lions go to St. Brown, but the Bears hold.
Scrambling and evading Detroit on first down, C. Williams finds Keenan Allen for a 14 yard first down throw. The Bears sputtered while recovering their own fumble and going offside with back to back completions to Keenan Allen. Then a spectacular pitch and catch for 22 yards by Keenan Allen with Terrion Arnold draped all over him gives them the ball at the Detroit 22. The Bears sputtered with a negative gain, a penalty and a Lions sack. (9:09 – 4th) (Shotgun) C.Williams sacked at DET 37 for -9 yards ( Al-Quadin Muhammad). The Bears punt with 8:13 to go in the game trailing by 17.
Chicago uses their final drive of the day with C. Williams rolling out and occasionally finding receivers. Two Lions personal foul calls extend the drive. The Bears earn six yards on first on the Detroit 17. Two key pass breakups by T. Arnold and Brian Branch bring up 3th and four. The Bears go for it and with C. Williams being pressured, a late flag on an incomplete pass was finally picked up and the Lions run out the clock on the game.
Key Stats
The Lions win 13 games in a season in franchise history
Lions-Bears Offensive Stats
3 Stars of the Game
1st Star- Jahmyr Gibbs- 27 touches, 156 yards and a TD.
Second Star- Brian Branch- 12 Tackles- 10 solo. He has a QB Hit, pass breakup and was a menace against Chicago.
3rd Star for Detroit- The Lions offensive line sprung the offense for 482 combined yards. The sack given up was Goff tripping and falling. Great day for this squad.
The Lions play next on Monday Night against the 49ers on the road.
Roy J. Akers covers the NFL for www.skyviewsports.net and several other sports.
