By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
On November 13th, 2022 The Detroit Lions, fresh off of their 2nd win of the season, rode into the Windy City hunting for Bears. Confidence in the Locker room is at an all-time high. Especially after beating the hated rival, Green Bay Packers. The Lions received the first kickoff, drove down the field to the 5 and settled for a Field Goal. Which also shows maturation and stability in the play calling, by taking the points when you can.
It became a struggle for both teams to score in the first, because neither did again. Then Chicago tied up the score to start the 2nd quarter. The Lions responded with their first TD of the game. A strike from Goff to Brock Wright (All 3 TEs on the roster have scored in the Red Zone since the Hockenson trade).
The Lions still struggled with the run game and containing Justin Fields especially (13 carries 147 yards 11.3 yards per carry and 2 TDs) gave up a staggering 258 yards on the ground, over 400 yards total.
Early in the 4th, it looked to be a dagger with 2nd Fields TD run of 68 yards. But their usually very reliable FGK Cairo shanked the extra point with a little over 12 minutes left in the game. Score 17-30 at this point. Then Back the Bears up with their almost comical day fighting with the refs. Hutchinson backs forcing Fields, while being hit by J. Okwara to sail a pass that gets picked off for a TD by 3rd pick in the 2020 draft Jeffrey Okudah (who is becoming the definition of a shutdown corner in this league)!
Then the Lions stop the Bears again! Drive down and take the lead! What?!?! Snapping a 13-game road losing streak back to the end of the Quintrasha Era in 2021.
The Defensive Stars for Me:
Julian Okwara 6 pressures 2 sacks
Aidan Hutchinson 6 pressures 1 sack
Jeffrey Okudah 1 INT for a TD
Offensive Stars
Amon-Ra St. Brown 10 catches for 116
Brock Wright 1 TD
Jared Goff 19/27 73.06% 236 yards 1 TD 0 picks.
Detroit Lions 31
Chicago Bears 30
Thanks for reading!!!
