By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
This Thanksgiving the Lions have a lot to be thankful for. They are a good team, they’re leading their division. For the first time in franchise history, they have had a three-peat of winning seasons. And the ineptitude of the Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus.
The first half the Lions dominated the Bears in every stat imaginable. First downs, Bears had Zero, Lions had 17. Yardage, the Bears had 44, the Lions had 273. Including the scoreboard, where it was Bears Zero, Lions 16, and what looking to be a blowout. But a familiar nemesis was starting to rear it’s head.
Midway through the second quarter. 3rd year defensive end Josh Paschal suffered an injury. A couple of plays later, fourth year defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike went down. Then on offense, our interim starting left tackle Dan Skipper with a torso injury. And this all happened before halftime.
Then on his ninth carry while pushing his way into the red zone. 2nd year RB Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled on a perfect hit by a Bears Safety. Momentum started to feel like it was shifting to end the half.
Chicago receives the ball, and the Bears drive right down the field and scored. The Lions answered with another Sam LaPorta TD, his second of the game. A failed trick play, with reverse to the extremely athletic right tackle Penei Sewell, it seemed to energize the crowd as the erupted into a thunderous reaction.
The Bears score again and elect to go for 2 point conversion the Lions stopped toward the end of the 3rd quarter. I thought it was a little too early to not take the extra point.
The Bears defense were just as stingy in the Red Zone, as they were all season. The run a similar defense to the Detroit Lions.
Jake Bates missed his 4th attempt at a FG in the game. Making him 17/18 on the season. The Bears score again! 20-23 and have the ball late on the game. It is crucial about this drive, unless the Bears can get into a FG attempt distance. They have no shot of winning!
Caleb Williams led the Bears right down the field. A penalty of Offensive Pass Interference negates the 3rd down play. Then a questionable Defensive Pass Interference call moves them back into FG range. There is a little over 40 seconds in the game. And disaster for the Bears strikes. As Zadarius Smith (newly acquired) defensive end goes untouched and sacks the QB Caleb Williams. There is 27 seconds on the clock. With Cakeb being a rookie QB. I don’t put the blame on Caleb for not understanding the urgency needed. But a 3rd year Head Coach in Matt Eberflus should. He doesn’t take a timeout. Which the Bears had one!
So the clock is ticking and no sense of urgency by the Bears as the clock is dwindling away. At 10 seconds, Caleb Wilkiams audibles into another play as their precious time is dwindling away. They get the play off at the 7 second mark. While Caleb Williams attempts what is a Hail Mary. Clock expires as the pass falls harmlessly to the ground. Lions survive the 2nd half Offensive onslaught of the Bears. Matt Eberflus was fired by the Bears on Friday morning following the game. As he should have been.
Offensive Stars:
Penei Sewell RT Zero Sacks allowed
Jahmyr Gibbs RB
David Montgomery RB
Sam LaPorta TE
Jared Goff QB
Defensive Stars:
DJ Reader DT
Zadarius Smith DE
Al-Quaddin Muhammad DE
Terrion Arnold
Key Injuries:
DE Josh Paschal (knee)
DE Levi Onwuzurike (knee)
DT Mehki Wingo (leg)
CB Khalil Dorsey (ankle)
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ACL)
SS Brian Branch (ankle)
LT Dan Skipper (torso)
Next on the Lions menu is cheese as the Green Bay Packers (9-3) are coming to face off against our Detroit Lions (11-1), for the first time in franchise history!!!
Final Score
Bears 20
Lions 23
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