Lions at Bears: Late rally falls short resulting in third straight loss
Second Quarter
Theo Riddick came down with a Stafford pass for a gain of nine yards and on 3rd & 1, Detroit fullback Nick Bellore fell just short of the first down and Detroit was pressed again into yet another punt. At this point of the game, the Lions looked out of sorts and frustrated. Chicago no doubt sensed this as they continued to set themselves up as the aggressors in this game.
The Bears continued their march down the field as Detroit’s defense looked to be incapable of stopping them in any way.
On a second down play, Mitchell Trubisky found his rookie receiver Anthony Miller deep for a 45-yard touchdown pass and as the second-year signal caller continued his nearly perfect play in this game, the Bears’ kicking woes continued as they missed their second extra point attempt of the game and the score held at 19-0 Chicago.
Matthew Stafford led his unit back out to the field but unfortunately, his carelessness with the ball led to a Bears interception by cornerback Bryce Callahan.
On the next Bear drive, Mitchell Trubisky was flat out elusive as he continuously evaded a sack by Lion defenders and frustrations then boiled over for second-year linebacker Jarrad Davis. He was flagged for a personal foul as he hit the Trubisky out of bounds and the penalty yardage led to a 1st & Goal for Chicago. To make matters worse for Detroit, starting defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson was injured on the sequence.
A defensive pass interference call against Detroit’s Nevin Lawson meant the ball was placed on the 1-yard line and though the Bears went backwards on a few snaps, Trubisky called his own number with a QB keeper and he ran 4-yards for the touchdown, extra point made, 26-0 Chicago.
The Lions, struggling to find anything offensively to this point, found Kenny Golladay for 13-yards. Marvin Jones caught another Stafford dart pass for 14-yards and Kerryon Johnson picked up another 9-yards on the ground.
LeGarrette Blount picked up another first down for Detroit as the Lions were putting together a respectable drive for themselves offensively. Johnson rumbled his way for another first down and from there, the ball was on Chicago’s 17-yard line. Another quick run by Kerryon made the down and distance 3rd & 4 as the clock ticked to the two-minute warning.
The Bears were called for a defensive pass interference penalty and as a result, it was 1st & Goal on Chicago’s 1-yard line. Blount tried to punch it in but Chicago kept him out of the end zone on two straight carries in an impressive showing by their defense. On 3rd & Goal, Kerryon Johnson had to leap with the ball up and over Chicago’s defenders in order to score the touchdown, 26-7 Chicago.
The Bears were pinned on their own 10-yard line with under a minute remaining in the first half and though they ran a few plays, they failed to advance the ball and both teams were content to head into their locker rooms for the mid-game break.
The Lions will receive the opening kickoff of the second half.