By Colton Pouncy, Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns
David Montgomery and Aidan Hutchinson came up with game-clinching plays in the waning seconds of the Detroit Lions’ 31-26 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Ford Field. Here’s what you need to know:
- Bears quarterback Justin Fields passed for 169 yards and a touchdown and added 104 rushing yards as Chicago held a 26-14 win with 4:15 to play.
- David Montgomery punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give Detroit a 29-26 lead with just 29 seconds to play.
- Hutchinson then forced a Fields fumble on the first play of the final Bears drive turning into a safety to help
- Lions (8-2) quarterback Jared Goff threw two touchdowns and three interceptions, but the Lions added two scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
At least Lions finished it off
The Lions turned the ball over four times, allowed Fields to run for 104 yards and yet still beat the Bears on a day without their best stuff. This was far from Detroit’s best effort, but give the Lions credit for finishing.
Trailing 26-14 with 4:14 to go, they scored on their final two possessions — and converted a two-point conversion — to go up 29-26. When the Bears needed a score, the Lions’ pass rush got home, sacking Fields and forcing a fumble that resulted in a Lions safety. With the win, the Lions improved to 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in the NFC North. Good teams find ways to win, and that’s what the Lions did today. — Colton Pouncy, Lions staff writer
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Lions show vs. Bears to never count them out: 'If you think it's over, it's not'
Four takeaways not enough for Bears
Bad teams lose games like this. The Bears had won 22 in a row dating back to 2008 when they took the ball away four times in a game (per Stathead). They squandered a 12-point lead and can look back to earlier missed opportunities as a reason they lost the game.
There’s a lot to be encouraged about from the takeaways on defense to Fields’ running to his touchdown throw to DJ Moore, but the final few minutes were a reminder of why the Lions are in first, and the Bears are in last. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears staff writer
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Fields impresses in first game back
Fields’ first game back from injury was a good one. Well, for the most part. Fields finished 16-of-23 for 169 yards and a touchdown for a 105.2 passer rating. He also had 18 carries.
“Overall, I think Justin had a good game,” coach Matt Eberflus said.
But it still wasn’t good enough. Fields didn’t blow the Bears’ 26-14 lead in the fourth quarter. That’s on Eberflus and his defense. But Fields missed rookie receiver Tyler Scott on a third-down deep ball in the final three minutes. It’s a miss that wouldn’t have mattered as much if the defense did its job. But it was one that Fields and Scott discussed after the game.
“I just kind of misjudged it I guess a little bit,” Scott said. “It’s just something to learn from.”
Fields played well enough to win his first game back after missing four straight because of a dislocated right thumb. — Adam Jahns, Bears senior writer
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Jahns: Bears blow it in Detroit, but don't blame Justin Fields
Highlight of the game
One man wrecking crew 😤 @aidanhutch97
📺: #CHIvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/qf7l0SjQcz— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023
Required reading
- NFL Week 11 takeaways: Browns defense is ‘special’; 49ers appear to be back
- Here’s a Bears blueprint: Hire Jim Harbaugh. Draft Marvin Harrison Jr.
- With 7 games left, can Bears QB Justin Fields save jobs at Halas Hall?
- Lions’ best-case, worst-case scenarios in final 8 games as they eye playoffs
(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)