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In Detroit, Jared Goff connected with Sam LaPorta for two touchdown passes, while Jake Bates contributed with three field goals in the first half, leading the Detroit Lions to a 23-20 victory against the Chicago Bears on Thursday. This win marked Detroit’s impressive 10-game winning streak and represents a significant turnaround after they ended a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving last year.
Late in the game, the Bears found themselves in Lions territory, with an opportunity to either tie the game with a field goal or take the lead with a touchdown. Unfortunately, that chance slipped away when Caleb Williams threw an incomplete pass as time expired from the 41-yard line of the Lions, following a sack that left the team with just 30 seconds to play and one timeout remaining.
The Lions, currently leading the NFC with an 11-1 record, achieved their highest win total after 12 games in the franchise history, with their 10 consecutive victories matching a record set by the 1934 team. Meanwhile, the Bears faced their sixth consecutive defeat, highlighting their struggles this season.
Detroit dominated early, leading 16-0 at halftime and extending it to 23-7 as the game entered the final quarter. Despite this, Williams led a late-game rally for Chicago, consistent with a similar effort from the previous week, where he nearly turned around a deficit in the final moments against Minnesota but ultimately lost in overtime.
Goff commenced the game strong, guiding his team through four consecutive scoring drives. His 3-yard touchdown pass to LaPorta in the second quarter, complemented by Bates’ field goals, set the Lions ahead. In contrast, the Bears struggled significantly, managing minimal yardage and failing to secure a first down in their first four drives.
Goff’s second touchdown pass to LaPorta, a short 1-yard throw, increased Detroit’s lead to 23-7 late in the third quarter, following an electrifying play where Jameson Williams executed a 15-yard reverse, impressively vaulting over defender Kevin Byard to gain additional yards.
Williams, the top overall draft pick, showcased his skills with a 20-of-39 performance, totaling 256 yards and giving his team two touchdowns to Keenan Allen, along with another score to DJ Moore. However, he made a notable mistake in the third quarter during a run, opting to pull up instead of running out of bounds, leading to a low-impact hit by linebacker Jack Campbell. Despite this, the former USC standout rebounded quickly, throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen on the next play.
Detroit had a chance to further extend their lead but saw Bates miss a 45-yard field goal after starting his NFL career with a flawless streak of 19 successful kicks. This opportunity was hindered by a personal foul penalty against Jameson Williams for unsportsmanlike conduct. Williams capitalized on the moment, launching a 31-yard touchdown pass to Moore, cutting the deficit to just three points with 5:36 remaining in the game.
Injury notes for the game included Bears running back Roschon Johnson, who exited with a concussion, and several other players who were inactive due to various injuries. The Lions faced their challenges as well, losing defensive linemen to injuries that have plagued the roster, including standout Aidan Hutchinson’s broken leg. Cornerback Carlton Davis and offensive tackle Taylor Decker were also sidelined.
Looking ahead, the Bears will travel to San Francisco on December 8, while the Lions are set to host the Green Bay Packers next Thursday night.
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