The Chicago Bears took full advantage of the Detroit Lions making crucial errors and the defense was the difference. Justin Fields and DJ Moore played hard, making colossal strides in the second half to create big plays while the defense kept Jared Goff and company on their toes.
With the 28-13 victory, the Bears have now won back-to-back games since Matt Eberflus took over as head coach.
Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Recap
First Half
The Bears received the opening kickoff at Soldier Field on a crisp Sunday afternoon and went to work. In just under five minutes, Justin Fields led the Bears on a drive to the 16-yard line.
The Bears direct-snapped it to DJ Moore who rushed in for a touchdown.
After eight plays, the Bears had a 7-0 lead.
When the Lions’ offense took over, they didn’t make it very far. The Bears’ defense held them to only 12 yards gained and forced a punt.
The Bears took over on offense and got deep into the Lions’ territory. But Fields took a big sack that pushed them back. They settled for a 46-yard field goal attempt and Cairo Santos nailed it. The Bears now lead 10-7.
Then the Lions were able to put together a drive worth more than 12 yards. But after six plays, Jaylon Johnson stole a ball up in the air for the first turnover of the game.
Johnson ran it back quite a bit but a penalty negated the return yards and it brought the Bears back to the 22-yard line.
Regardless, the Bears couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and ended up turning it over themselves on downs. On 4th and 1, Fields pitched the football to DJ Moore but Detroit was all over him and he gained nothing.
That’s when the Lions took advantage. Jared Goff led Detroit on a four-and-a-half-minute drive. The Lions went 61 yards in nine plays capped off by a 12-yard run from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Detroit kicker, Riley Patterson, missed the extra point and the Bears led by four points.
But the offense struggled after the momentum swing. They went three-and-out for negative yardage and punted.
Then Jared Goff went to work again and took nearly five minutes off the clock and connected with Josh Reynolds for an eight-yard touchdown and a Lions’ lead.
The Bears didn’t have much time left in the first half to respond but Fields took the offense out there anyway. He took a sack that took off the remaining time and the Bears went into the locker room at halftime trailing the Lions, 13-10.
Second Half
The Lions received the ball to begin the third quarter. They punted and the Bears were able to drive down for a 25-yard field goal. Santos nailed it and tied the game at 13.
Then the Bears and Lions traded punts for three consecutive drives before Justin Fields and DJ Moore blew this game open. Fields connected with Moore on a huge 38-yard play for a touchdown.
The extra point was blocked and Detroit nearly returned it but fell short. The Bears were now in front 19-13.
Then Jared Goff made a critical mistake. He fumbled after only two plays and a bad snap with T.J. Edwards recovering the football.
The Bears wasted no time, going 29 yards in 1:48 and another touchdown. Fields scrambled out of the pocket and ran for an 11-yard score.
They attempted to nab two more points but Fields’ throw to Moore was incomplete and the Bears led 25-13.
Then the defense came up big again.
The Lions turned the ball over on downs after only four plays and the Bears turned that into three points.
They took a few minutes off the clock and Cairo Santos hit a 28-yard field goal, extending the Bears’ lead to 15 points.
When the Lions got the ball back, they turned it over on downs again. This time, they managed to gain 37 yards but the Bears’ defense stood them up and Gervon Dexter Sr. got his first career sack.
The Bears went three-and-out punting the ball back to Detroit who had one last chance to score. But Tremaine Edmunds had other plans. He picked off Jared Goff after only a minute and the Bears were able to ice the game.
The Bears won by a final score of 28-13.
Chicago Bears Players Notes
- Justin Fields – 19/33, 223 Yards, 1 TD, 12 CAR, 58 Yards, 1 TD
- D’Onta Foreman – 11 CAR, 50 Yards, 2 REC, 22 Yards
- DJ Moore – 6 REC, 68 Yards, 1 TD, 3 CAR, 20 Yards, 1 TD
- Khalil Herbert – 3 CAR, 8 Yards
- Roschon Johnson – 1 CAR, 6 Yards
- Cole Kmet – 5 REC, 66 Yards
- Darnell Mooney – 2 REC, 44 Yards
- Velus Jones Jr. – 1 REC, 11 Yards
- Marcedes Lewis – 1 REC, 4 Yards
Jaquan Brisker led the Chicago Bears defense in tackles on Sunday with 17 total. Tremaine Edmunds had seven tackles while Tyrique Stevenson, Montez Sweat, and Justin Jones all had five.
Sweat and Jones combined for 2.5 sacks and Yannick Ngakoue also had a sack to go along with his three tackles.
The win propels the Bears to a 5-8 record and they have a road matchup with the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.