Post-Patricia Lions edge Bears, give Darrell Bevell first win
The Detroit Lions snap a nine-game losing streak against the NFC North
When they made a pair of major organizational changes eight days ago, the Detroit Lions hoped that they’d soon start heading in a new direction. Beating a divisional rival for the first time in almost two years is a good start.
Running back Adrian Peterson‘s second rushing touchdown of the game helped secure a 34-30 Lions win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field. The win was the first for the Lions against an NFC North opponent since Week 17 of 2018. The Bears have lost six in a row.
The Lions fired both head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn on November 28th after they led the team to a 13-29-1 record since the beginning of 2018. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell took over on an interim basis, winning in his first game as an NFL head coach.
Rookie receiver Quintez Cephus scored his first career touchdown on a diving 49-yard grab in the second quarter to trim the Lions’ deficit to 16-13. But running back David Montgomery scored the Bears third rushing touchdown of the first half just before halftime, giving the Bears a 23-13 lead at the break.
Tight end Jesse James‘ second touchdown catch of the season pulled the Lions to within three points mid-way through the third frame. The Lions managed to keep the Bears scoreless in the third quarter, but rookie tight end Cole Kmet restored Chicago’s double-digit lead with an 11-yard touchdown grab early in the final stanza.
A 25-yard touchdown pass to wideout Marvin Jones with less than three minutes to go cut the Bears lead to three again, and defensive end Romeo Okwara stripped the ball from Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky deep in Bears territory on the next series.
The Lions recovered it, and took a 34-30 lead with 1:37 to go on Peterson’s second rushing score of the day. The Bears could not convert on fourth down on their final possession, clinching the Lions’ win
Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for a season-best 402 yards, along with three touchdowns and an interception. It was his first time surpassing 400 yards through the air since Week 9 of 2019. Trubisky finished 26/34 for 267 yards and a touchdown.
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Lions’ receiver Kenny Golladay missed his fifth-straight game with a hip injury. Running back D’Andre Swift and cornerback Jeff Okudah were also sidelined for Detroit. The Detroit Lions return home to face the Green Bay Packers next Sunday, December 13th at 4:25 p.m. EST.