Lions over Bears: 10 Observations from wild comeback win
Detroit Lions dig deep for late game comeback in Darrell Bevell’s head coaching debut.
As the monumental challenge to quickly put the failed ‘Patriots Midwest’ experiment behind them begins, the Detroit Lions did just enough to start things off right. In a battle between NFC North rivals reeling from a midseason slide and identical 41-25 losses a week ago, an Adrian Peterson touchdown run and a 4th-and-1 red zone stop lifted the Lions to a 34-30 win over the Chicago Bears.
Matthew Stafford threw for 400 yards despite his two best weapons (Kenny Golladay and D’Andre Swift) sidelined with injuries yet again. Romeo Okwara made the biggest play of his career so far to knock the ball loose from Mitchell Trubisky and set the Lions up with first and goal inside the ten late in the game.
It wasn’t perfect, or even pretty for most of the time, but the Lions overcame a 30-20 fourth quarter deficit to snap a nine game NFC North losing streak and give interim head coach Darrell Bevell a victory in his first game as an NFL head coach.
Here are my ten observations from Sunday…
1. The Lions’ problems go far deeper than getting rid of Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn…
Duh, we knew that. That’s not so much of an observation, just a perpetual fact of the franchise. Mixing up the coaching staff and front office won’t shave a half second off Jahlani Tavai’s forty time, suddenly clear up the tackling and coverage issues from the defense, or prevent Matthew Stafford from making inexcusable turnovers like the gift-wrapped fourth quarter interception to Bilal Nichols.
It certainly won’t erase 62-plus years of futility that doesn’t show any signs of letting up. That’s not the point.
2. But they stood tall on Sunday, so just enjoy it.
Enjoy the positive vibes on the Lions sideline, the several youngsters who made huge contributions, the snapping of the losing streak in the division. Enjoy Romeo Okwara literally single-handedly changing the complexion of the game with his blocked extra point, and more importantly, forcing the critical fumble by Trubisky.
Enjoy Matthew Stafford’s unlikeliest 400 yard passing game, Darrell Bevell entering the win column in his first game at the helm, and the defense forcing three consecutive three-and-outs and getting a game-clinching 4th down stop, all in the fourth quarter.