The Lions escape the Bears’ comeback bid after Chicago completely botches the final snap
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The Lions escape the Bears’ comeback bid after Chicago completely botches the final snap

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions built a big lead against the Bears, but had to hang on as Chicago was a mess on the final play with a chance to tie or take the lead. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions built a big lead against the Bears, but had to hang on as Chicago was a mess on the final play with a chance to tie or take the lead. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

The Detroit Lions hadn’t won a Thanksgiving game since 2016. Lions fans unexpectedly had to work up a sweat to break this streak.

They have the Chicago Bears game management fiasco to thank.

The Bears, who still had a timeout, let the clock run down to the final seconds after a sack and were trailing by three points. It went too far downfield and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw an incomplete throw on the final play.

In the end the Lions won 23:20. A questionable defensive pass interference penalty downfield on a fourth-and-14 desperation pass gave the Bears a first down well within field goal range. But the drive stalled and then the Bears mismanaged the clock like you’ll see in the NFL.

It’s hard to be sharp about every single half of an NFL season, and the Lions have been very good for most of this season. The Lions’ second half wasn’t impressive, but at least they didn’t suffer another Thanksgiving loss. After their dominance in the first half, that would have been a bitter disappointment. As it stands, another win and an 11-1 record is just fine as they’re in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

It’s going to be a long week for Chicago coach Matt Eberflus, who is in the hottest seat possible after the Bears botched the end of the game.

The Bears have played better in recent weeks. They defeated the Green Bay Packers with a blocked field goal and took the Minnesota Vikings to overtime. The Bears had a 4-7 record, but they haven’t been an incompetent team lately.

The Lions made the Bears look like a college team in the first half.

In the first quarter, the Lions outscored the Bears 214-11 and had 15 first downs (a ridiculous number in a football quarter) to zero for the Bears. Detroit scored on the first play of the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to LaPorta to take a 10-0 lead.

The Lions offense has been fantastic all season and the defense has made great strides to match. The Bears’ first three possessions all ended in threes. They only managed a first down with 51 seconds left in the first half. The Bears have had some terrible offensive games this season, but Thursday’s first half seemed more about the Lions’ defense dominating them. The Bears had 53 yards rushing in the first half. The Lions had 279. It seemed like Detroit was going to overwhelm them.

But give the bears credit. In the second half the game was significantly different.

The Lions were clearly dominant in the first half, but some trouble in the red zone and a Gibbs fumble deep in Bears territory left Chicago with a manageable 16-0 halftime score. Just after halftime, Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen for a touchdown and the Bears cut their deficit to 16-7. The Lions came right back. Aided by a questionable horse-collar penalty on a third-down stop, the Lions went offside and LaPorta got his second touchdown.

But the Bears continued to persevere. Williams calmed down and made plays. The Lions’ offense didn’t move up and down easily, and a missed field goal by Detroit in the fourth quarter kept the door open for a comeback. Williams had a nice pass to DJ Moore for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:36 left, and despite a miserable first half, the Bears were within three points.

The Bears forced a punt, but Detroit had good coverage and hit it at the 1-yard line. Williams kept the Bears’ hopes alive with a 25-yard pass to Moore on third down. Chicago moved it to midfield after the two-minute warning. A sack set back the Bears’ drive and they faced a fourth-and-4 just outside field goal range at the Detroit 44-yard line. There was an offensive pass interference call that negated a Moore catch for a first down, and then Williams threw it deep on fourth-and-14. Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor scuffled with Moore and officials called the penalty. That kept the bears alive.

After that, the drive stalled, a sack and a penalty pushed them back. Williams was sacked with 30 seconds left and it took too long for him to make the play. Williams looked like a rookie trying to organize the team. The snap came with about six seconds left and he held it too long before throwing it downfield.

It was a win for the Lions. It felt more like the Bears blew it in the end.

Live46 updates

  • The Lions hold on to their 23-20 win as the Bears mishandle the final seconds

    The Detroit Lions earned an incomplete victory with a score of 23:20. The Bears’ second-half surge ended with a slight chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, but instead they found a way to blow it.

    Chicago mishandled the final seconds. Although there was still a full timeout remaining, the Bears did not use it and time was running out when Williams’ final pass fell incomplete.

    On that strange note, the wild Türkiye Day duel in the Midwest came to an end.

  • Lion’s feast afterwards chaotic – but effective! – win

    With the win, the Lions move to 11-1, having won 10 straight.

    The result is that they have a celebratory bird to eat that they can be thankful for. Jared Goff, who hit 21 of 34 and threw two touchdowns, won a special Thanksgiving MVP award in honor of John Madden.

  • Chicago’s final drive is further hindered by flags

    The Bears had a first down blocked but were sent back with an illegal hands call. Williams was sacked on the next play.

  • Dueling pass interference flags cause chaos in the final minute

    On fourth down, Bears tight end Cole Kmet was called for offensive pass interference, forcing Chicago to replay the fourth down with an additional ten-yard penalty. But on the next play, the Lions called for pass interference, giving Chicago a sudden first down at Detroit’s 25.

  • The Bears allow a third sack against Williams, but are able to convert the first down

    Caleb Williams was sacked again on this drive, with his third sack of the day coming from Al-Quadin Muhammad. But Williams was able to make two big plays in a row, with a 14-yard pass to DJ Moore and a 12-yard rush from D’Andre Swift that got the Bears over the line for a first down.

    Chicago now has two minutes and 50 yards left to score a game-winning (or winning) score.

  • A massive first down keeps the game alive for Chicago

  • Detroit wins a three-pointer, but at least they got a great punt

    The Lions’ special teams did the most to land the punt at the one-yard line.

  • Monster touchdown pass from Williams to DJ Moore

    It’s now a one-score game with Williams making the long throw over DJ Moore to bring the Bears within three points.

  • Even with a 10-point deficit, Caleb Williams continues to push

  • Detroit misses the field goal

    Jake Bates made three field goals today, but his fourth missed right. It’s still 23-13, with Detroit’s lead a little smaller than they’d like.

  • Jameson Williams was reported for taunting

    Lions receiver Jameson Williams got a little too frisky after a short lead, taunted defender Tyrique Stevenson and threw the ball in Stevenson’s face. The unsportsmanlike conduct left Detroit on second-and-22.

  • DJ Reader is massively fired by Caleb Williams

    DJ Reader gets his second sack of the game against Caleb Williams, resulting in a loss of 11 yards. Williams’ next pass is incomplete (and almost intercepted), and the Bears have to punt again.

  • Keenan Allen is down after that final play, but it’s unclear whether or not there’s a serious injury. Allen scored both of Chicago’s touchdowns today and would be a huge loss to the Bears’ offense if he were to miss.

  • Caleb Williams finds Keenan Allen for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion is of no use

    Chicago is determined to make this a game to watch, with Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen for his second touchdown of the day.

    But the Bears fail to convert the two-point conversion and the score remains 23-13.

  • Big 29-yard gain for D’Andre Swift

  • Goff and LaPorta connect for their second touchdown

    Jared Goff fakes the pitch into the backfield and finds an open Sam LaPorta for his second touchdown of the day. Detroit takes a 23-7 lead.

  • Jameson Williams managed to get the Lions into the red zone

  • Caleb Williams’ touchdown pass is even more impressive because it came right after a fumbled tackle by Jack Campbell. Williams’ legs were bent back at an awkward angle on the way down, but he appears to be fine — and he got Chicago within nine points.

  • The Bears bring the score to 16-7 with an excellent touchdown throw from Williams

    Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen again with a huge 31-yard touchdown strike, overcoming Detroit’s deficit. Chicago is still in this thing.

  • In the second half, Caleb Williams makes a big shot to get Chicago out of trouble

    It looked like the Bears were off to a rough start as Caleb Williams was sacked by Lions lineman DJ Reader and his next pass was incomplete. But on third-and-15, Williams found Keenan Allen for an 18-yard gain, scoring the first pass and proving the Bears still have some life left.

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