Bear Digest

Bears and Lions In-Game Blog: Lions 23, Bears 20 FINAL

Analysis and reporting in-game on the Thanksgiving Day game between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions as Caleb Williams tries to help his team break a five-game losing streak.

Gene Chamberlain

Detroit's Amrik Robertson breaks up a pass to DJ Moore in Thursday's Bears-Lions game.
Detroit's Amrik Robertson breaks up a pass to DJ Moore in Thursday's Bears-Lions game. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In this story:

Fourth Quarter

Another botched close game.

  • Flus strikes again! They take too long after a sack to get off the next play. No one called timeout. They only had one timeout left. They could have grounded the ball and tried a 57-yard field goal. Cairo made a 57-yarder in warmups. Instead, they get up and throw downfield incomplete as the clock expires. Lions wasted three seconds with their celebration after the sack. They took way too long to get the play off as Williams lost track of time. But Flus should have called timeout when it became apparent they weren't getting the play off. That's on Williams for taking the sack and then not getting the next play off. But ultimately it's on Flus for not calling timeout.
  • Allen with a catch inside the 15 but Teven Jenkins flagged for knocking off helmet of Alim McNeill. Now it's second-and-20. Just like a sack. Almost out of field goal range.
  • Williams could have hit DJ Moore for a touchdown but threw errant short pass that could have been run in. Second-and-10 at the 25.
  • Official had good view of pass interference on Lions' Kindle Vildor., Former Bears DB. Should have been hold or illegal contact and not interference but definitely was a penalty for a first down.
  • Moore gets the first down but they call Kmet again for offensive interference. They ran into Kmet's helmet.
  • Hard throw to Allen broken up by a defensive lineman downfield in coverage. Fourth-and-4.
  • Williams comes back from the sack to run to the Lions 44 on a scramble and now Coleman Shelton returns. Third-and-4.
  • Bears at midfield and Doug Kramer in for at least a play but the Lions sack Williams.
  • This is the time of game when Flus enters into things with his wonderful time management. The Bears should be thinking touchdown here, forget about thinking blocked field goals.
  • Big run by Swift behind the block from Teven Jenkins and another by Braxton Jones. But center Coleman Shelton is hurt on a 14-yard gain.
  • Third and 1 after a sack and 14-yard pass to DJ Moore. Bears at the 39.
  • A miracle, they bring Moore across the formation. He caught a short throw and turned upfield for the first down as another Lions defender is down for the count. It was Za'Darius Smith so they lose a pass rusher for one play. He seems OK.
  • The Bears need to burn a timeout. Now they have two left plus the 2-minute warning. That's a costly burn but it's better than running a play when they're confused.
  • Bears facing third-and-7 at their own 4. They need to get it out of there first. There's 3:14 remaining.
  • The Bears get the three-and-out with a stuff of the run on third down-and-2. Cowart with the stop. But DeAndre Carter let the ball go and Detroit downed it at the 1, but Allen gets the catch at the 6 and gets his helmet stripped off from behind. Bears get a terible call Allen for complaining when Neimann dripped his helmet.
  • The comeback continues. Caleb Williams to DJ Moore for the 31-yard touchdown pass on third-and-short. Went up top. Lions 23, Bears 20
  • A second-down throw to Allen in double coverage and he limps but stays on the field. Third-and-1.
  • Williams with a Houdini act and a flip to Moore for the first down as Lions decide to get chippy with the Bears receiver after his spin move netted a few more yards. LB Rodriguez hurt for Lions. Looked like cramps or his calf.
  • Williams scrambles on second down to set up third-and-4. Kmet catches a quick out at the sticks and the drive continues at the Bears 46.
  • Field goal goes wide right from 45. Bears get a break with 8:42 left. They had far less time when they were down 11 last week.
  • Allen's injury was his ankle, not knee. They could get him back out there. Lions are facing a third down after an incompletion. Montez Sweat injured on the play. Without a rush, they get a completion off short of the sticks.
  • Officials finally got something right. Jameson Williams threw the ball off the face of Tyrique Stevenson out of bounds after a catch.Dumb but no one ever accused Williams of using good judgment.
  • Nice stiff-arm from Patrick on a catch over the middle, then turns it upfield for a first down.
  • Brilliant throw by Williams on a dig route to Moore but Moore didn't get his arm up and it hit his pads and bounced away. Can't blame the QB on that one. It would have been an incredible first-down pickup. The receivers sometimes don't realize the strength on those throws. They just need more time on task. Bears punt and Lions get it at midfield after an obvious block in the back goes uncalled by officials. Don't worry guys, it's almost the end of the game and you can't blow too many more calls.
  • Williams was sacked and then threw it before he was down. He actually got the ball off but should have been called for grounding. Leave it to the officials to botch it.
  • If Allen's out, will be interesting to see if they move Odunze to the slot or possibly just put DeAndre Carter there. Odunze seems like he could play any position well.
  • Bears at the 15 and Swift running hard but can only get 3. Keenan Allen grabbling his knee while laying down on the field. Not a good sign.
  • Eberflus throws the challenge on an obvious bobble by Sam LaPorta and doesn't win the challenge because replay-assist fixes the officials' mistake and calls it incomplete. Keeps his record of never winning a challenge this year intact. Then the Bears get a three-and-out with an overthrows. Amon-Ra's acting job on good defensive effort by Terell Smith didn't persuade the officials. So the Bears have it back after a punt and look to cut it to a one-score game.
  • Well-executed half-boot by Goff nets a first dow and then Gibbs runs out of a tackle for 3 yards. That's the good thing about Gibbs. He isn't just fast. Even though he's smaller, he's fairly tough.
  • Williams looks one way, then back to Allen slanting for the TD from 8 yards out and Bears actually have the brains to go for two. PAT goes high at the back of the end zone. If he had waited another second it would have come open. Lions 23, Bears 13
  • Quick pass thrown right to Odunze at the sticks for the first down. Odunze saw exactly where he needed to get. First-and-goal at the 9.
  • With 183 yards rushing after three quarters for the Lions, there's no doubt the difference between these teams.

Third Quarter

  • Incompletion closes out the quarter. Williams very lucky his interception-free streak didn't end on the throw to the sidelines. Gotta pull for a TD here to see if Eberflus has the presence of mind to go for two.
  • Braxton Jones gets lazy on his block and Alim McNeill slaughters Swift, but the Bears get a break on second down with a hold on Amik Robertson holding DJ Moore's waist. Would have been a TD without the hold but went for an incompletion.
  • Swift with another tackle broken, this on a screen against the blitz. Worked perfectly for a big gain to the Lions 22.
  • Rome Odunze with a catch on the sidelines after Williams steps up and over in the pocket. First down. They're moving it again.
  • Williams now has the record for consecutive rookie throws without an interception that Kyler Murray formerly held. He has thrown 212 straight passes without a pick. Need more of the throws to be downfield and on the mark.
  • LaPorta catches a play-action TD toss from the 1 and the Lions convert off the terrible penalty call. Lions 23, Bears 7
  • First down on a QB sneak tat the Bears 3. Montgomery then gets 2 in the middle of the line.
  • End around by Jameson Williams breaks for 15 but officials missed a blatant block in the back of Gordon.
  • Kyler Gordon with a great tackle that is called horsecollar. It appeared a good tackle. Used his arm to make the tackle. Terrible call. Complete incompetence by the official, who thought he saw something, had a bad angle and decided to throw the flag without really having a good view of it.
  • After a screen against the blitz breaks for 18, the Lions are facing third-and-8 at their 43.
  • Williams set the rookie record for the Bears with his TD pass and had to go into tent after he'd been hit by Jack Campbell while scrambling near the sideline. It was his own fault on the play. He should have slid earlier or got out of bounds.
  • Williams runs for a first down, then strikes for a TD pass to Keenan Allen, who does a turkey dance in the end zone. And Matt Eberflus, who went for two last week when he didn't need to, apparently doesn't know simple math. Instead of going for two and getting within one TD and PAT, he kicks the PAT and leaves them nine behind.
  • A nice pass on the run to Allen for his first catch. Not sure he really caught it but they raced up and got the play off.
  • Missed open receivers downfield and threw it incomplete as Williams continues to play like he always does on the road.
  • Blitz gets Williams for a sack and he had no closer receiver to throw to, sort of like when Shane Waldron was the coordinator.
  • Swift with a nice run. Runs through a tackle, which is unusual for him. And they have a first down.
  • The Bears start at their 26 after attempting to return one without success and they go to the run with Swift for 4. At least give them something else to think about. He comes up a yard short on a run off left tackle, then. They're overdue for another holding penalty.
  • Go ahead and use the "Well, they're still playing hard for Matt Eberflus" line. There is no doubt about that but the Lions just look bored by it all.
  • Williams finishes the half 5-of-15 for 34 yards. They have 19 yards rushing. This is the way Williams has played in road games. He doesn't get rid of the ball fast enough, holds it and then is flushed out of the pocket with receivers not open. The ball must come out in time to get the ball moving. He hasn't had that problem at home.

Second Quarter

  • Lions rush one guy and cover the out-of-bounds throw. The half ends on two incompletions. Imagine that strategy. Covering the sidelines by rushing only one guy. That might have worked for the Bears defense in one other game I can remember.
  • Lions with another injury on the defensive line with nine seconds left and Bears facing third-and-3. The offense isn't findging anything really, just hit a pass here or there. Six more passes without an interception and Caleb Williams has an NFL rookie record for consecutive passes without an interception.
  • Stevenson to the rescue. Perfectly set up screen and Stevenson strips the ball at the 6 from Gibbs. It goes right to Dexter, who was trailing the play. Bears at their 6 and they actually get a first down on a pass to Kmet. It's the first one of the half. Celebration time.
  • Defense rises to the occasion and the Lions are looking at fourth-and-1. Of course they'll go for it. But they try instead to draw the Bears offsides and Darrell Taylor stupidly jumps offsides. Wow. Looked like Byron Cowart a few games back. Lack of discipline is coaching.
  • They actually go for it from their own 37 and try a deep ball to Swift on a wheel route. Incomplete but officials blew the obvious interference call. Didn't play the ball and just crashed into Swift.
  • Fourth-and-2 after a scramble by Williams. Looks like they'll act like they're going for it. TWO-MINUTE WARNING!!!
  • Roschon Johnson concussion evaluation is not good. He has had one before. It was last season on Oct. 5 against the Commanders.
  • Checkdown to Kmet in double coverage for 6. Then a holding call on Braxxton Jones as Williams scrambles for a yard. Jones got beat right away and had to hold.
  • At this point, they have to do everything possible to get the defense some rest. If they can't get a first down, just take their timeouts to give the defense some rest.
  • Have to give the Bears defense credit. When they aren't giving up 20 yards a pop on runs up the middle, they have played good pass coverage. Third down pass sails long and incomplete so Detroit accepts a 48-yard field goal. Lions 16, Bears 0
  • Pass rush nearly gets Goff on first down as he threws it away, and then Goff panicked on second down against the blitz and throws it in the dirt.
  • Lions go for it on fourth-and-1 after a nicely defensed third-down pass by the Bears. But Montgomery gets the first down at Bears 30.
  • Gibbs breaks it on a cutback run and Lions are at the Bears 41. Then another Gbibs run for 3.
  • Richard Hightower's poor punt coverage unit allows a return out near the 31 after Tory Taylor punts it inside the 20. Bears are 22nd covering punts.
  • Swift with a 3-yard run on first down. The first-down plays haven't been the problem. Incomplete on second down and then Williams is flushed out and can't hit Odunze on third down when he comes open.
  • Maybe Bears offense could work on getting a first down without a penalty. Lions haven't given up a touchdown in 11 1/2 quarters but the Bears can't even get a first down.
  • On third-and-goal Dexter gets the sack after TJ Edwards blitz flushes him out. So Bears with another red zone success. They're 2-of-3 in the red zone. But they're losing badly. Lions 13, Bears 0
  • Lions get first-and-goal on run by Montgomery. A perfect example of what the problem up front is. Dexter made a nice move at the line and penetrated too deep in the backfield. The gap left allowed the run to gain. His penetration needs to be more controlled. He's well meaning but his aggressiveness is used against him.
  • Illegal crackback block on Lions looked like a makeup call but the Lions come right back with a big gainer and a personal foul on Byron Cowart for hitting Jared Goff late. Horrible call. He was barely touched. Ball at the Bears 15.
  • Another run right up the middle. Bears DTs stood up and blown away again. Montgomery went to the 39.
  • This could be ugly by halftime. Heck. It's hugly now.
  • Williams throws it away and the Bears still don't have a first down. They'll punt as Paschal is hurt on the play for Lions.
  • Nice cut by Swift on run off left tackle and he gets 7 yards. DJ Moore back on the field for a WR screen on second down that only gets to the line. Nice flip to Swift by Williams on third down but they catch Cole Kmet with offensive interference. So Bears lose first down after a 12-yard gain. He obviously did it.
  • Jaylon Johnson beaten by tight end Sam LaPorta for 3-yard TD on play-action pass. The run made that 90-yard drive. Lions 10, Bears 0

First Quarter

  • Gibbs tearing up Bears run defense cutting once and then back across to the 17. Defensive tackles not getting it done for Bears again as Gibbs runs up the gut to the 3. Quarter ends.
  • Lions appear confused after a 2-yard Gibbs run and wisely use a timeout to get organized. NOt like Bears last week.
  • Gibbs breaks it outside on run off tackle behind Sewell and they are at the Bears 32.
  • Jamhyr Gibbs 8-yard run and it's third-and-2. Bears get caught blitzing and St. Brown beats Stevenson one-on-one for a gain to the Lions 47. Then TJ Edwards with a textbook tackle on the end around by St. Brown.
  • Of course Eberflus loses the challnege. 0-for-5 this year. Lions have second down at their 10.
  • Bears challenge an incompletion that the officials ruled on first down. I think he'll lose the challenge just because he always does lose them. It was a fumble by Jameson. He had just secured the football.
  • DJ Moore gets injured going for the deep ball on third down in a collision with Kerby Joseph and Bears punt. The second-down run destroyed their first drive. Josh Paschal broke it up in backfield.
  • Checkdown by Caleb Williams on first down to D'Andre Swift for 6. Can't get hurt with that.
  • Montez Sweat nearly gets there for a strip sack and Goff throws high so the Lions accept a chip shot field goal. Bears red zone defense does the job again. Lions 3, Bears 0
  • After converting three third downs, Lions face third-and-9 at the 12. Kyler Gordon nearly had a pick in the end zone on second down.
  • Ben Johnson tries to use 335-pound tackle Penei Sewell to pass. Can't find any target after "going through his progressions." Then they drag him down for a loss but if you can get away with it why not?
  • Williams beats Tyrique Stevenson on third down for the first down.
  • Run defense stiffens and leaves the Lions in third-and-7. The first-down bootleg they tried failed when it could have easily worked if Goff held the ball a while longer.
  • Bears can't stop a pass to the sidlines to Amon-Ra and it's already in field goal range at the Bears 35.
  • Montgomery running leaves Lions in easy conversion of third-and-4. Jameson Williams with the catch and Kyler Gordon can't tackle him before he gets to the sticks.
  • Goff starting at his 30. Bears run defense looks like it usually does now, giving up 10 to Montgomery on first down.
  • Bears kick off so they will get the third-quarter possession. Don't know if that's good to give the first possession to that Lions offense though.

Pregame

The road aspect of this game is even tougher for the Bears than the short work week. Matt Eberflus hasn't had a team win on the road in over a year now. It was Nov. 27, 2023 with the 12-10 win over Minnesota. The only other wins were over Washington on the Thursday night after Dick Butkus passed away, and in a night game against the Patriots in 2022, when they prevented George Halas from being passed up in wins by Bill Belichick against New England. All of those were bad opponents. The Bears haven't beaten a winning team on the road since the win over the Raiders in 2021 when John Gruden was about the be fired. The Raiders were 3-1 on that day and went on to make the playoffs after Gruden's firing. They won 20-9 thanks largely to Khalil Mack. This, alone, is an indictment of his coaching, and then there is the 5-18 record in one-score games.

Two wins so far for Matt Eberflus in the division. How many coaches do you recall in the NFL who started out with so few wins in division, on the road and overall for that matter, in their first 45 games but managed to turn it around and become great successes? If it was going to happen, there would have been obvious signs by now. Instead, there are only maddening defeats and that's kind of what his legacy was as a defensive coordinator too.

It's kind of wild the Vikings brought in Daniel Jones during the season the way they did. He could be a better option in the future than Sam Darnold. They're going the cheap way at QB. But when your coach is a QB savant you can do that. The Bears thought they had this with Shane Waldron. He didn't know how to coach up a rookie.

Twitter: BearsOnSI

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.