Bear Digest

Chicago Bears Live Blog | Bears 27, Lions 23 FINAL

The Chicago Bears opened their season in front of no fans in Ford Field at Detroit and struggled on offense. They rallied from a 23-6 deficit to a 27-23 victory.

Gene Chamberlain

Chicago Bears Live Blog | Bears 27, Lions 23 FINAL
Chicago Bears Live Blog | Bears 27, Lions 23 FINAL /

Join us as we live-blog and discuss Bears vs. Lions here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation by registering with BearDigest. It's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with BearDigest publisher Gene Chamberlain or fellow members of the BearDigest community as we react to the game in real-time.

Bears vs. Lions

Fourth Quarter

  • Jaylon Johnson bats it away and Bears with a fortunate win. Bears 27, Lions 23.
  • A 32-yard pass to Amendola across the middle and Lions clock it at the 16. 11 seconds left. D'Andre Swift drops winning TD pass with 6 ticks left.
  • Deep ball and Fuller nearly gets the pick. Incomplete.
  • Lions dink and dunk to Bears 48 with 34 seconds left but have to use final timeout.
  • Barkevious Mingo surfaces, near sack and forces incompletion. Officials again slow to make an incomplete call. A 5-yard completion on third down but clock runs
  • Stafford scrambles for 7 to the Lions 44 with 1:01 left. They have one timeout left
  • Stafford scrambles for 1 to avoid sack by Mack, throws for a first down with 1:18 left
  • It's all up to the defense that has't had much pass rush most of the day. 
  • Cairo Santos extra point gives Bears a 27-23 lead. Lions have 1:54 left to try and score a touchdown. Bears 27, Lions 23 1:54 remaining.
  • Anthony Miller with another spectacular catch, this one for a 27-yard touchdown down the sidelines. Perfect Trubisky throw and diving Miller catch. 
  • First down with offsides call. Charles Leno alertly jumped up
  • David Montgomery with a nice run on first down but the Bears mysteriously let the clock run down to two minutes. Explain the logic behind that one? They aren't even in real field goal range yet and they're letting time run off the clock. They're at the 32 with 2:00 left.
  • Kyle Fuller with a huge deflected interception of Stafford with 2:35 left on third-and-6 and the Bears are in business. Jaylon Johnson with coverage. Johnson appeared to get a hand in there and the throw to Amendola bounced high into the air where Fuller plucked it.
  • Trubisky to Javon Wims for a 1-yard TD pass and somehow 11 seconds ran off the clock. Maybe 5 seconds, but not 11. Lions 23, Bears 20 with 2:58 left
  • Trubisky rolls out and hits Graham for a TD but he appeared down at the 1-yard line. With 3:05 left Bears first-and-goal situation at the 1. The review shows him down just outside the 1 and it's a 16-yard completion.
  • Two great catches by Anthony Miller, one with one hand for 13 yards, and Bears are at the Lions 17. 
  • Bears at 45 with 4:00 left. Jimmy Graham a 7-yard  catch.
  • Dumber decision by Matt Patricia to try a 55-yard field goal. Doinked it. They could have punted and pinned back the Bears back. 
  • Dumb play call from Lions on third down, and Akiem Hicks makes them pay with a sack to force them out of field goal range.
  • Adrian Peterson eating time with key inside runs. Has 72 yards and has been with the team a week. There were plenty of people on social media being mocked for suggesting they sign Peterson. I would say those people doing the criticizing are rather quiet right now.
  • Trubisky flushed out of the pocket, fumbles on a sack by Trey Flowers on third down and Bears must punt on fourth-and-41.
  • Trubisky underthrows open Allen Robinson on the sidelines for an incompletion. Now it's third-and-13 at the 43.
  • This has to be even more discouraging for the Bears. The Lions lost three key defenders during the game and still have held the Bears to 13.
  • Somehow the Bears get a delay of game while losing by 10 in the fourth quarter.
  • CBs Desmond Trufant and Justin Coleman both out with hammy injuries for Lions.
  • Facemask penalty on Mitchell Trubisky scramble gets the Bears a huge gain with 10:30  left and the Bears are at the 40 of Detroit.
  • Officials blew a call. Lions third-down pass was backward and they called it an incompletion. Lions punting with 10:53 remaining and get a delay of game on a punt. That's totally foolish. Break for the Bears on the punt. They almost get the block and it hit on the ground and spun way back like a wedge, giving the Bears the ball at the 25.
  • Perfect throw on third-and-4 by Stafford, low and away lets them convert first down with 12:00 left. After incompletion, Bears defense needs to get heat on Stafford. Incompletion. 
  • Jimmy Graham shoves off and gets away with it for a nice TD catch. Trubisky puts the ball to the outside, where it needed to be. A 2-yard TD. Beat Walker. Lions 23, Bears 13 with 13:39 left.
  • Bears red zone offense doesn't look any better than last year so far, like the quarterback. X-out 13:43 left
  • Third down and goal at 2 now as Tracy Walker knocks down a Trubisky toss with David Montgomery wide open for the score.
  • Shovel pass to Allen Robinson gets 5. Good way to get Patterson hurt or one of the blockers. Still have visions of Kyle Long getting crippled that way.
  • Fourth-down option toss out to Patterson out of the I gets 2 yards. Bears first and goal. At the 7.

Third Quarter

  • Trubisky off again on bootleg pass as Demetrius Harris has broken open in end zone. On third-and-4 Trubisky throws it way behind Tarik Cohen and he somehow catches it for 3 yards and Bears are going to let clock run out on third quarter. Lions 23, Bears 6
  • Big catches by Allen Robinson and by Anthony Miller get the Bears to the 20. Trubisky decides to actually scramble finally and gets 6. Bears in the red zone again.  Robinson's catch alone was worth his contract extension, that he doesn't have yet. He reaches all out and hauls it in over the middle, sacrificing his body. 
  • Trubisky back to poor passing, somehow misses Montgomery on a pass out of the backfield when he could have run for 10 yards. 
  • Cordarrelle Patterson's 43-yard kick return is the first big play by a Bears player since midway through the second quarter.
  • Lions might want to avoid running a read option with Stafford carrying the ball. It's not too smart when your quarterback had a back injury last year and looks even slower than he was in the past. Lions get a 44-yard field goal by Prater. Lions 23, Bears 6.
  • Buster Skrine for a pass interference. Lions at the Bears 33. 
  • Akiem Hicks  holding on screen gives Lions new life on this drive. 
  • Adrian Peterson is made for this kind of situation. He can't be like he used to be. But he can run up the middle and help eat time off a clock. Gets the Lions out of bad field position and into Bears territory again. 
  • Now Pagano is acting desperate and blitzed Tashaun Gipson. Adrian Peterson runs right through a huge gap on the side where the invisible Barkevious Mingo plays. 
  • Bears face third-and-5 at their 48. Trubisky holds onto the ball forever, then dumps it over the middle to Darnell Mooney, who is creamed and was covered. Bears punt.
  • Two nice Montgomery get the Bears out of a hole. Everyone on offense appears ready to make an impact. Except the quarterback. 
  • Losing by 14, this is when a real quarterback steps up and tries to rally a team. Don't count on that happening.
  • Perfect example of what a real quarterback can do in the red zone. Stafford dumped the ball down low to the side of Hockenson where he had found a way to get an inch of space and gets a touchdown pass. The Lions lead 20-6.
  • Marvin Jones burns Johnson at the 14 for his seventh straight completion plus Roy-Rob late hit on Stafford has put Lions inside the 5. 
  • Cephus catches a play-action pass and burns the blitz at the Bears' 30.
  • Lions face third-and-2 at own 36 and go to Amendola for the first down in Bears territory on a 15-yard pickup. The Bears defense is on its heels now.

Key first drive because if the Bears fall 10 or more down, Nagy abandons the run

Lions offensive line with a strong close to the half, giving Matthew Stafford the time to go downfield and also then clearing Akiem Hicks out of the way on the touchdown run. They caught Johnson on the key pass with his lack of experience and communication. He should have gone outside on Hockenson in coverage but went inside toward where Jackson was at. 

Bears need to dump Trubisky. He still can't get them into the end zone.

The defense looks like it misses Leonard Floyd. The extra speed element as a pass rusher is absent. And Floyd's ability to cover is missed. The Bears got burned when they gambled on pass rush. The Bears can't use the excuse of Khalil Mack being triple-teamed. He's being blocked by a backup lineman right now and it's effective.

Kudos to Bill Lazor and to Juan Castillo for the run design and blocking changes because it looks outstanding so far. The only thing missing is a quarterback.  

Second Quarter

Lions 13, Bears 6 Halftime

  • Hockenson deep against the zone at the Bears 2 gets Johnson turning the wrong way. Lions get an easy 1-yard touchdown by D'Andre Swift on next play. Lions 13, Bears 6  :19 left.
  • Stafford finds T.J. Hockenson crossing on Trevathan well into field goal range with 28 seconds left for 18 yards.
  • Patterson penalized on coverage team for going out of bounds and not coming right back. Lions start with 40 seconds left at the Bears 48
  • With 1:01 left, Bears are at their own 14. Bears return the favor and go three-and-out and the Lions get a win. They'll get the ball back with 45 seconds left near midfield.
  • Bears defense rises up and forces three-and-out and a punt. Stafford scrambled and couldn't get the last few inches with Roquan waiting. Punt pins Bears at 11.
  • Well, it's been 2 quarters and Trubisky doesn't look any better at finding receivers, looks uncomfortable in the pocket and moving around, doesn't look to run at all, doesn't see the guys come open immediately, delivers the ball in the wrong place. He still can make the strong throw over the middle against a zone like he always has been able to do. Looks no different. I'd get Foles warmed up for the third quarter and forget the mistake they made to start the season.

Two-minute warning with Lions at their 33.

  • Trubisky needed to throw low and to the left of Kmet at the goal line and he had at the very least a first down and goal at the 1 but threw it high and to the right. That's the second instance of his throw being way offline to a receiver matched up one on one who could have made the play. Trubisky 7 of 17 for 107. A 62.6 rating.
  • Lions cornerback Justin Coleman is injured with 2:06 remaining in the half, leaves field with help. Tony McRae in for Coleman. Santos makes 28-yard field goal. Bears 6, Lions 6
  • Lions fool Trubisky by backing out of the blitz, then Trubisky doesn't get the ball to Cole Kmet fast enough when he was open at the goal line. Incomplete and field goal try to ensue. 
  • Tarik Cohen tries to run up the middle on first down and is slow to cut. Gains 1
  • Darnell Mooney with another nice play and a Lions facemask for grabbing Allen Robinson's facemask sets the Bears up at the 11.
  • Running game continues to burn the Lions. An 8-yard run by Montgomery. Second-and-2 at the Lions 47 and Montgomery pounds for the first down. 
  • A 22-yard play action goes to Robinson and Bears beat the blitz to their 46. 
  • Bad decision by Patterson to return kick but manages to get it back to the 24.
  • Matt Prater's 32-yard field goal makes it. Have to give the Lions credit for converting two long third downs and getting them blocked. The Bears really didn't get close to a sack on those plays. They also hurt the Bears on a screen on the drive which rarely has occurred in the past to the Chicago defense. Lions 6, Bears 0 5:33 left.
  • Third-and-eight at the Bears 14 and Jaylon Johnson nearly picks off Stafford pass as he's under heat from Mack and Roy Robertson-Harris. Field goal coming.
  • Stafford scrambles slowly for 13. Gets Lions to the Bears 16
  • Stafford tries to test Jaylon Johnson for the first time and Johnson has great coverage. Incomplete. Lions face third-and-10. At 50. Bears blitz, don't get there and Marvin Jones burns them with a 21-yard catch and run.
  • Lions facing third-and-12, here comes the rush. Now it's third-and-17 after false start by Jonah Jackson, the Ohio State rook. Great pass blocking and Amendola catches a 19-yard pass. The defense should never allow a play like that.
  • Holding penalty on TJ Hockenson nullifies a first down and pushes Lions back into their own territory. He was holding Mack.
  • Play-action to Marvin Hall gets the Lions 26 yards in the middle. Found seam over Roquan Smith in front of Eddie Jackson.
  • With 10:44 left in half, Lions at their 13.
  • Bears with 69 rushing yards, 66 passing have had good balance but that decision by Nagy not to go for a 51-yard field goal means this is tied.
  • Justin Coleman drops interception on third-and-12 pass that Allen Robinson couldn't get to. He simply wasn't open and Trubisky should not have thrown the pass. Lions field a punt fair catch at their 13.
  • Lions finally get out on the edge to stop Patterson for a loss on first down. First time they had backside pursuit to cut off the cutback lane.
  • Crossing route for 12 Trubisky to Patterson into Lions territory.
  • Officials threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on Jamie Collins for head butting an official. A picky stupid penalty call, but an even dumber thing for Collins to do. It's in the rules you can't make contact intentionally. And new he's tossed. That's the rule. Walter Payton once was ejected for putting a hand on a ref. Collins needs to be a little more wise about the rules.  He definitely meant no harm but that's just stupid on his part.
  • Montgomery bulls 8 yards on second-and-1. Line trampled Lions up front and Montgomery ran through a tackler.
  • Tarik Cohen completely fouls up punt return. Doesn't call fair catch. Lets it get downed at the 12 and then almost gets pushed back into the ball as it lays on the ground. But makes up for it by running up the middle 8 yards on first down.
  • Bears stuff Lions run by Peterson on third-and-1. Fourth-and-1 they look like they might try it on their own 34 but decide to punt. Good decision. 

First Quarter

  • Mack forces a holding call on Crosby on running play to put Lions in a hole, but they get out and face third-and-1 after Amendola catch over the middle against Eddie Jackson.  Quarter ends. Bears 3, Lions 3
  • So far the Bears run blocking has been excellent in this new approach using more QB under center, but the passing game timing is sporadic.
  • Santos could have easily made a 51-yarder earlier.
  • Cairo Santos drills 35-yard kick. Bears 3, Lions 3
  • Like last year Trubisky is reluctant to run, looks to pass and throws incomplete. He's trying to find receivers late on plays but he just doesn't seem comfortable doing what Aaron Rodgers does. Incomplete to Anthony Miller on third down in end zone and Bears bring in Cairo Santos.
  • Tarik Cohen gets great blocking coming out of the backfield and runs for a first down to Detroit's 21. Ran 16 yards between tackles. Fantastic blocking
  • Jet sweep to Allen Robinson flops for a yard loss left. Allen Robinson has never been able to run that play.
  • Darnell Mooney 19 yards on play action on his first NFL catch. Right in the middle of the zone.
  • Bears at 46 after 5-yard Cordarrelle Patterson off left tackle
  • Bears ball and Mitchell Trubisky goes through progression well, then dumps it to Montgomery for a nice first down catch. 
  • Just a horrendous pass interference penalty on the Kyle Fuller started that drive. He made no contact until after the ball was well past the players, and he actually hit the ball and it occurred after it passed the receiver.
  • Great blocking by center of Lions line Ragnone, on the 19-yard Adrian Peterson run. Had no one there. You have to wonder if the Bears give up that kind of a play if they have Eddie Goldman at nose.  No one ever runs straight up the middle 19 yards with Goldman in the center of the line.
  • Matt Nagy said he wanted touchdowns and not field goals. Well, sometimes you need to take the field goal.
  • Lions drive dies at the 9 on two straight incompletions. They'll take the field goal and the lead. Lions 3, Bears 0  6:30 left
  • From Bears 31 Stafford finds Quintez Cephus for 20 yards to the Bears 10 on play action. Field goal situation and penalty caused a big turnaround here. 
  • Poor call against Bears for pass interference. Kyle Fuller hits the ball first and then Adrian Peterson gashes the Bears for 19 yards.
  • Incomplete fourth on fourth down as Matt Nagy has no confidence in Cairo Santos to make a 51-yard field goal. Trubisky looks like his old self and throws well behind Ted Ginn Jr. for incomplete pass 14 yards downfield on fourth-and-7.  Bad decision by Nagy playing indoors and bad execution from Trubisky. Lions sure won't turn down a 51-yard field goal try with their kicker.
  • Jimmy Graham mistimes jump on second down pass for incompletion and the drive dies at Lions 34. Trubisky landed on same left shoulder he hurt last year but appears all right. Bears are calling timeout to decide on field goal of 51 or 52 yards or going for fourth-and-seven play.
  • Bears at the Lions 37 after Robinson catches RPO toss to Robinson of 12 in the middle.
  • First Allen Robinson catch of the year produces first Bears first down of 13 yards, then Cordarrelle Patterson takes the toss out of the I and goes 13 around right side cutting back.
  • Trubisky with a familiar look. Boot pass doesn't fool Detroit and Christian Jones forces Trubisky to throw it away.
  • Interior pass rush gets to Roy Robertson-Harris as Khalil Mack is held off the edge with no call. Incomplete as the pass had no time to develop.
  • Roquan Smith shoots in on second-and-8 for a 1-yard loss.
  • Third and 1 sneak by Mitchell Trubisky fails. The Bears try running three straight and get 9 yards. Punting time. They rushed the third-down sneak for some reason.
  • First run gets the Bears 6 yards out of an I formation. Lots of fans will like that. The Bears will run plenty of it this year.
  • Interesting that the Bears have Riley Ridley inactive but rookie Darnell Mooney is active. At training camp, Mooney caught a very good number of passes for a rookie, and Ridley appeared to be ascending when Allen Robinson II was injured with an ankle problem, but perhaps they like the speed factor of Mooney on the artificial turf. He was behind several Bears defenders in the scrimmage at Soldier Field and the quarterbacks just didn't hit him, one underthrow and two overthrows.

Inactives

Bears

OLB Robert Quinn

CB Duke Shelley

TE Eric Saubert

WR Riley Ridley

DE Mario Edwards Jr.

OL Arlington Hambright 

Lions

 WR Kenny Golladay 

CB Jeff Okudah 

RB Jonathan Williams 

S CJ Moore 

OL Logan Stenberg 

OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai

TE Hunter Bryant

Published
Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

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