The Detroit Lions haven’t won a Thanksgiving game since 2016. Lions fans unexpectedly had to sweat to break that streak.
They can thank a game-management fiasco by the Chicago Bears.
The Bears, who had one timeout remaining, let the clock run down in the final seconds after a sack, trailing by three points. It went too far and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw incomplete on the final play.
The Lions won 23-20. A questionable defensive pass interference penalty on a desperation pass on fourth-and-14 gave the Bears a first down well within field-goal range. But the drive backfired and then the Bears managed the clock as poorly as you’ll see in the NFL.
It’s hard to be sharp 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 take another Thanksgiving loss. After the way they dominated the first half, it would have been a serious letdown. Another win and an 11-1 record is just fine as they chase the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
For Chicago, it will be a long week for head coach Matt Eberflus, who is in possibly the hottest seat after the way the Bears fell apart late in the game.
Lions dominated the first half
The Bears have been playing well the past few weeks. They were one blocked field goal from beating the Green Bay Packers and taking the Minnesota Vikings to overtime. The Bears were coming off 4-7 but haven’t been ineligible lately.
The Lions made the Bears look like a college team in the first half.
In the first quarter, the Lions outgained the Bears 214-11 and the Bears had 15 first downs (a ridiculous amount in a quarter of football) to zero. Detroit scored on the first play of the second quarter, Jared Goff’s touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta for a 10–0 lead.
The Lions’ offense has been great all season, and the defense has made big strides to match it. The Bears’ first three possessions ended in three-and-outs. They didn’t get a first down until 51 seconds into the first half. The Bears’ offense has had some terrific games this season, but the Lions’ defense seemed more about dominating them in Thursday’s first half. The Bears had 53 yards in the first half. The Lions had 279. It looked like Detroit was going to blow them out.
But give the Bears credit. The game was very different in the second half.
Bears play
The Lions were clearly superior in the first half but some red-zone issues and a Jahmir Gibbs field goal in Bears territory made the score 16-0 for Chicago at halftime. Just after the half, 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 call on a third-down stop, the Lions drove downfield and LaPorta got his second touchdown.
But the bears hung on. Williams calms down and makes plays. The Lions didn’t move up and down the field as easily, and a missed field goal by Detroit in the fourth quarter left the door open for a comeback. Williams had a nice pass to DJ Moore for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:36 left and the Bears were within three points despite a poor first half.
The Bears forced a punt but Detroit had good coverage and downed it at the 1-yard line. Williams kept the Bears’ hopes alive with a 25-yard pass to Moore on third down. Chicago took over midway through the two-minute warning. A sack set back the Bears’ drive and they faced fourth-and-4 just outside field-goal range at Detroit’s 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 was hand-to-hand with Wilder Moore and the officials called a penalty. That kept the bears alive.
The drive stalled after that, a sack and a penalty pushed Chicago back. Williams was sacked with 30 seconds left and took too long to start the play and run it. Williams looked like a rookie trying to organize the team. The snap came with about six seconds left and he held it long before throwing it downfield.
It was a win for the Lions. It finally felt more like the bear blowing it.
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The Lions held on for a 23-20 win as the Bears made a mistake in the final seconds
The Detroit Lions picked up an incomplete win, a 23-20 win. The Bears’ second-half surge ended with an easy chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, but instead found a way to screw it up.
Chicago completely mishandled the final seconds. Despite a full timeout remaining, the Bears didn’t take it and the clock ticked down as Williams’ final pass fell incomplete.
On that odd note, the Wild Midwest Türkiye Day matchup is over.
Messy after lion feast – but effective! — victory
With the win, the Lions move to 11-1, having won 10 straight.
As a result, they chow down on a celebratory bird with much to be thankful for. Jared Goff, who went 21 of 34 and threw for two touchdowns, won a special Thanksgiving MVP award in honor of John Madden.
Chicago’s final drive was further hampered by the flag
The Bears were initially locked up, but sent back through an illegal use of a hand call. Williams was sacked on the next play.
Dueling pass interference flags created chaos in the final minutes
On fourth down, Bears tight end Cole Kemet was called for offensive pass interference, forcing Chicago to add a ten-yard penalty and replay the fourth down. But the Lions were called for pass interference on the next play, giving Chicago a sudden first down at Detroit’s 25.
The Bears allowed a third sack on Williams, but managed to convert the first down
Caleb Williams was sacked again on this drive, the third sack of the day coming from Al-Kadin Muhammad. But Williams managed to get two big plays in a row, a 14-yard pass to DJ Moore and a 12-yard rush from De’Andre Swift to get the Bears over the line for a first down.
Chicago now had two minutes and 50 yards to go to get a game-tying (or winning) score.
Massive first down keeps the game alive for Chicago
Detroit goes three-and-out but at least they got a great punt
The Lions special teams did most of the work to punt down at the one yard line.
Monster touchdown pass from Williams to DJ Moore
It was now a one-score game, with Williams making a long throw to DJ Moore to bring the Bears within three points.
Even down 10 points, Caleb Williams continues to push
Detroit misses a field goal
Jake Bates made three field goals today, but his fourth went wide. It’s still 23-13, Detroit’s lead a little thinner than they’d like.
Jameson Williams is the flag bearer for rebuke
Lions receiver Jameson Williams yelled a little too much after a short gain, pulled defensive back Tyreek Stevenson and threw the ball in Stevenson’s face. An unsportsmanlike conduct flag moved things back to second-and-22 for Detroit.
DJ Reeder gets a huge sack on Caleb Williams
DJ Reeder gets his second of the game on Caleb Williams, resulting in an 11-yard loss. Williams’ next pass is incomplete (and almost intercepted), and the Bears have to punt again…
Keenan Allen went down after that last game, but it’s unclear if the injury is serious. Allen has both of Chicago’s touchdowns today, and would be a huge loss to the Bears offense if he is ruled out.
Caleb Williams finds Kenan Allen for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion is no good
Chicago was determined to make it a game to watch, with Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen for his second touchdown of the day.
But the Bears failed to get the two-point conversion, and the score remained 23-13.
Big 29-yard gain for De’Andre Swift
Goff and LaPorta connected for their second touchdown
Jared Goff faked a pitch into the backfield and found an open Sam LaPorta for his second touchdown connection of the day. Detroit takes a 23-7 lead.
Jameson Williams intercepted in the red zone
Caleb Williams’ touchdown pass is even more impressive because it came after an awkward tackle by Zach Campbell. Williams’ leg was bent back at an awkward angle as he went down, but he seemed to be doing just fine — and got Chicago within nine points.
A great touchdown throw by Williams brought the Bears score to 16-7
Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen again with a huge 31-yard touchdown strike to cut Detroit’s deficit. Chicago is still this thing.
With the second half underway, Caleb Williams made a big throw to pull Chicago out of a tough spot
It looked like things got off to a rough start for the Bears, as Caleb Williams was sacked by Lions lineman DJ Reeder and his next pass fell incomplete. But on third-and-15, Williams connected with Kenan Allen for an 18-yard gain, a first down to prove the Bears had some life.
