Jared Goff connected with Sam LaPorta for two touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions extended their winning streak to 10 games by holding off the visiting Chicago Bears, 23-20 on Thursday. This remarkable streak matches the franchise record set during their inaugural season in Detroit in 1934. The Lions, who snapped a seven-game losing streak in their annual Thanksgiving Day game, now boast the best record in the NFC at 11-1.

Goff passed for 221 yards, while David Montgomery contributed 124 scrimmage yards. Jahmyr Gibbs added a combined 104 yards for Detroit. On the other side, Caleb Williams threw for 256 yards and three second-half touchdowns for the Bears (4-8), who have now lost six consecutive games. DJ Moore was a standout for Chicago, catching eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions dominated the first half, outgaining the Bears 279-53 and grabbing a 16-0 lead. Detroit controlled the ball for nearly eight minutes after the opening kickoff but settled for a 30-yard Jake Bates field goal. The Bears struggled early, going three-and-out on their first possession. The Lions then methodically moved 90 yards down the field in 10 plays, scoring on the first play of the second quarter with a three-yard pass from Goff to LaPorta. Bates added 36 and 48-yard field goals to extend the lead.

The Bears finally got on the scoreboard on the opening possession of the second half. Williams finished off the 74-yard drive with a 31-yard pass to Keenan Allen. The Lions quickly answered with another touchdown, this time a one-yard toss from Goff to LaPorta, making it 23-7. Chicago cut the deficit to 23-13 on Williams’ 9-yard scoring pass to Allen with 13:40 remaining, but the 2-point try failed. Bates missed a 45-yard field goal attempt with 8:42 left, and the Bears made it a three-point game with 5:36 remaining on Williams’ 31-yard scoring pass to Moore.

The Lions were forced to punt on their next possession, but it was downed on the Bears’ one-yard line. A pass interference penalty against Detroit on fourth-and-14 allowed Chicago’s drive to continue in the final minute. After a sack left the ball on the Chicago 41-yard line with 32 seconds left, the Bears failed to call a timeout on third down, and the clock ran out on a Williams incompletion.

Source link:   https://www.theguardian.com