The Lions defeat the Bears for their franchise-record 13th victory

Chicago — What kind of answer is that?

After ending their 11-game winning streak against the Buffalo Bills last week, the Detroit Lions showed no mercy against a desperate Chicago Bears team at Soldier Field on Sunday, building a 20-point lead before falling in the second Half of them achieved a 34:17 victory.

It was the Lions’ 13th win of the season, a franchise record.

Detroit scored on its first six possessions (except for a final field goal attempt before halftime) and set a new season record for points scored (493) as Detroit (13-2) remained in control of the NFC North and With two games remaining in the regular season, it is the No. 1 seed in the conference.

“It takes a special group of guys to bounce back emotionally, physically and mentally after a tough loss, especially when you haven’t lost in a while,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “I told the guys I knew that that was a … franchise record of 13 wins that had never been equaled. And I told them that one day we’ll be able to look back and enjoy this. But not yet.”

After the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Washington Commanders 36:33, the Lions have once again taken a commanding lead over No. 1. When Washington’s Jamison Crowder scored the go-ahead touchdown with six seconds left, the Lions’ locker room erupted in celebration. If the Seattle Seahawks can defeat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the Lions will be in position to clinch both the North and a first-round bye in a Week 17 game in San Francisco.

“This means a lot to me because when I got here we had a 3-13-1 record,” said safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who made his season debut Sunday. “S—, to see us have 13 wins means a lot to me that I got to experience that and be part of the change.”

The mood in the Lions’ locker room was quite a twist from the situation Detroit found itself in after its loss to the Bills a week ago.

“Last week was tough, but I think the outside players were more worried than we were as a team,” receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said. “Because we know the type of players we have in this locker room, the coaches. This is what we have built. One game will not stop us from achieving the end goal and what we strive for.”

Campbell said that fending off teams to get close to No. 1 and win a second straight NFC North title is “the reason you want to coach and play in this league.”

“That’s when your eyes open, when the competition is at its highest, people are breathing down your neck, or you’re chasing someone and you’re at the top,” Campbell said. “It just doesn’t get any better. That’s what it’s about. Can it get frustrating? Can it be stressful? Yes, it gets all that. But it’s also the drug. It’s the drug. “That’s what you live for.”

The Lions’ most despicable act of the day occurred on their first drive of the second half. Quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs pretended to stumble on a play-action fake that opened up tight end Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown pass that gave the Lions a 20-point lead. After the game, Lions players said the play was called “Stumble Bum.”

“As soon as the ball was snapped, I heard the crowd go ‘Oh!’ call. I’m like, ‘Perfect, everyone thinks he probably screwed up,'” St. Brown said. “I looked back and it’s a touchdown.”

Asked if he’s ever surprised by the wild things Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson comes up with on a weekly basis, Gibbs said: “I used to be. Now it’s like I expect something every week.”

▶ Box Score:Lions 34, Bears 17

In the Lions’ first game without running back David Montgomery, Gibbs shined as the lead back. Although the Lions said he would split his workload with running backs Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson, Gibbs had 23 carries for 109 yards and 154 total yards from scrimmage, including 45 receiving, fueling the Bears to the Lions’ season win in Chicago and improve to a 5-0 record in the NFC North. Detroit amassed 475 yards of offense as a team.

“I don’t think we missed a beat because he took over a little bit more,” Campbell said.

Goff completed 23 of 32 passes for a total of 336 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His best throw of the afternoon went to wide receiver Jameson Williams, giving the Lions a 20-0 lead with 12:49 left in the second quarter.

Williams burst through the middle of the field and Goff brilliantly fielded him for an 82-yard touchdown, the longest receiving touchdown of Williams’ career and the second-longest touchdown pass of Goff’s career. Goff was asked after the game what allowed Williams to come into the game so openly: “Genetics,” Goff said.

Williams finished his career with 143 receiving yards on five catches. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.

“It was a great throw, excellent protection, and man, he just did great on his landmark, hit it with speed, trusted it, great catch,” Campbell said. “It was a great time.”

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was impressive, but Chicago’s nonexistent running game made the unit one-dimensional and often killed the momentum Williams and his receivers created. He completed 26 of 40 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Bears were a disaster offensively early in the game. Rome Odunze fumbled twice on the Bears’ first three drives, leading to 10 points for Detroit in the first quarter.

The first was an unforced error as Odunze broke off the exchange with a jet sweep; Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal pounced to give the Lions a short field for a seven-play touchdown drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibbs.

The second was forced by Lions defensive backs Amik Robertson and Brian Branch and recovered by linebacker Jack Campbell. Detroit capitalized on another seven-play drive, this time ending with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Jake Bates, giving the Lions a 13-0 lead.

The Lions defense flexed but didn’t break down often. She stopped the Bears on eight of their 10 third-down attempts and held them to one touchdown on two red zone trips. Detroit racked up six tackles in the game for a loss. The Lions allowed 48 points the week before.

“It’s always been a challenge, but we know who we are,” Robertson said. “Don’t let anyone give us a narrative and tell us who we are. You have to know who you are. I know this side thing, we know who we are. “We just want to go out and play Lions football.”

After Chicago got on the field with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet, the Lions and Bears exchanged touchdowns in the final minute of the half.

St. Brown caught a third-down screen pass and rolled into the end zone for an 8-yard score that gave Detroit a 27-7 lead, but the Bears answered with a three-play touchdown drive.

Bears receiver Keenan Allen, who scored twice in the first meeting with Detroit, beat cornerback Terrion Arnold with a double move and stormed down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the half, tying the game at 27 :14 stood.

Detroit had a chance to score a field goal before halftime, but long snapper Hogan Hatten was cautioned for a false start on a 60-yard field goal attempt by Jake Bates, and the Lions kicker was able to make the 65-yard Don’t try to reach the goal.

Chicago waved the white flag with 8:21 left in the fourth quarter of a 34-17 game. Al-Quadin Muhammad, the Lions’ edge rusher, smashed Caleb Williams on fourth-and-20 in the third, and after a delay-of-game penalty, the Bears punted as their fans headed for the exits .

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The Lions defeat the Bears for their franchise-record 13th victory

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