SOLDIER FIELD
WEEK 13: SUNDAY, DEC.6, 2020
The following are post-game notes and quotes from the Detroit Lions’ 34-30 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, Dec.6, 2020.
POST-GAME NOTES
LIONS SCORING PLAYS
-First Quarter: RB Adrian Peterson rushed for a three-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the quarter to cut the score to 9-6. The extra point was no good.
-Second Quarter: WR Quintez Cephus caught a 49-yard touchdown from QB Matthew Stafford to cut the score to 16-13 with 2:22 left in the half. K Matt Prater made the extra point.
-Third Quarter: TE Jesse James caught a nine-yard touchdown from QB Matthew Stafford to cut the score to 23-20 with 3:55 left in the quarter. K Matt Prater made the point-after.
-Fourth Quarter: WR Marvin Jones Jr.caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Matthew Stafford with 2:18 left to cut the score to 30-27. K Matt Prater made the extra point.-Fourth Quarter: RB Adrian Peterson rushed for a five-yard touchdown with 1:37 left to give Detroit a 34-30 lead. K Matt Prater made the point-after.
TEAM NOTES
The Lions…
-Had their first comeback of nine-or-more points since doing so against the Falcons in London on Oct. 26, 2014.
-Produced their 11thgame of the season with at least 20 points scored, tied with the 2013 team for the most 20-point games within the first 12 games of a season.
-Scored 34 points against the Bears, the fifth-most they’ve ever scored against the Bears in Chicago. The last time they scored at least 34 points in Chicago was in 1983. The only other times came in 1972, 1951 and 1945.
-Totaled 460 yards of offense, the eighth-most they’ve ever had against the Bears and the most they’ve ever had in Chicago. The last opponent to total at least 460 yards of offense in Chicago was Washington team on Dec. 24, 2016.
-Had five different players record a reception of 20-or-more yards.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WR QUINTEZ CEPHUS
-Caught two passes for 63 yards (31.5 avg.) and one touchdown.
-Produced his first-career touchdown on a 49-yard reception. This marks the second-longest touchdown reception a Lions rookie selected in the fifth-round-or-later has ever produced for the club.
TE T.J. HOCKENSON
-Caught seven passes for 84 yards (12.0 avg.). His seven receptions matched a career high.
-Now has 614 receiving yards this season, passing TE Brandon Pettigrew (590 in 2010) for the most yards a Lions tight end has had through the first12 games of a season.
-Produced his eighth game of the season with at least 50 receiving yards, the most 50-yard games a Lions tight end has had in a single season.
-Has now produced at least 80 receiving yards in consecutive games, joining TE Brandon Pettigrew (2011 season) as the only Lions tight ends to ever do so.
WR MARVIN JONES JR.
-Caught eight passes for 116 yards (14.5 avg.) and one touchdown.-Produced the 10th100-yard game of his career.
-Now has 17 receiving touchdowns against NFC North opponents since joining the Lions in 2016. This ranks as the second-most receiving touchdowns any NFL player has had against his own division in that span.-Produced his 33rd-career touchdown with the Lions, passing Cloyce Box (32) for the sixth-most in franchise history.
DE ROMEO OKWARA
-Finished with four solo tackles, 1.0 sack, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one blocked extra point. His strip-sack of Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky gave Detroit possession of the ball in Bears territory to win the game.
-Now has 5.0 of his 7.0 sacks on third downs this season.
-Notched a tackle for loss, his eighth game of the season with a TFL. This ties the record for the most by a Lions defensive lineman through the first 12 games of a season.
-His eight tackles for loss tie his single-season career high.-Recorded the first blocked extra point of his career and his second blocked kick of the season. The last time Detroit blocked an extra point was vs. Minnesota on Nov. 23, 2017.
RB ADRIAN PETERSON
-Rushed 16 times for 57 yards (3.6 avg.) and two touchdowns.
-Produced multiple rushing touchdowns in consecutive weeks for the first time of his career. The last Lion to do so was RB Jahvid Best in 2010.-Produced his 28th-career game with at least two rushing touchdowns, passing Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown (27) for the third-most in NFL history. -Produced his 11th-career season with at least five rushing touchdowns, tied with Hall of Fame RB Walter Payton for the third-most in NFL history. -Rushed for his 16thcareer touchdown against the Bears, passing Hall of Fame FB Jim Taylor(15)for the most rushing touchdowns against the Bears in NFL history.
-Rushed for his 10thcareer touchdown against the Bears in Chicago, passing Hall of Fame FB Jim Taylor (9) for the most an opponent has had against the Bears in Chicago in NFL history.
QB MATTHEW STAFFORD
-Finished 27-of-42 (64.3) for 402 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a 109.4 passer rating.
-Produced the 31stfourth-quarter comeback of his career, the most in the NFL since he entered the League in 2009 and tied with Hall of Fame QB John Elway for the seventh-most in NFL history.
-Produced his 38thcareer game-winning drive, the second-most in the NFL since he entered the League in 2009 and tied with QBs Matt Ryan and Johnny Unitas for the eighth-most in NFL history.
-Produced his 10th-career 400-yard game, becoming the seventh player in NFL history to record atleast10 games of 400 yards.
-Threw for his 275th-career touchdown in only his 161st-career game, the eighth-fewest games needed to reach 275 touchdown passes in NFL history.
-Accounted for his ninth season with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, tied for the 11th-most in NFL history.
-Passed QB Vinny Testaverde (275) for the 16th-most passing touchdowns in NFL history.
-Produced his 49th-career game with 300 passing yards, tied for the 14th-most in NFL history. It’s the seventh-most since he entered the League in 2009.
-Became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 400 yards against the Bears on the road, joining QBs Brian Griese (2008), Brett Favre (1993) and Randall Cunningham (1989). Stafford and Favre are the only division rivals to do so.
-Produced his second 400-yard game against the Bears, becoming the only quarterback to do so multiple times against the team.This is also the only opponent Stafford has thrown multiple 400-yard games against.
Chicago Bears Media Conference Sunday, December 6, 2020 Chicago, Illinois, USA
Darrell Bevell Postgame Press Conference
Detroit Lions – 34, Chicago Bears – 30
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah. So just, I mean, amazing game today. These players, they just did such a great job. They never measured the game. They continued to play, you know, for 60 minutes. The effort with which they played with, the enthusiasm, playing for one another, believing in themselves was just amazing. You gotta give those guys credit. At the end of the game I think that was really telling of where these guys are at, you know, to get a major turnover there in the red area, for us to be able to run that ball in. Then we kicked the ball off and tackled inside the 20. And then to finish on a 4th and 1, you know, gotta have a situation to get a fourth down stop. I mean I think that says all you need to really ask about today’s game and how these players played and reacted. So excited for them. It was a crazy, amazing week, and I just couldn’t be happier with how they did today.
Q. Darrell, can you just run us through your emotions here, especially in the fourth quarter, you’re down 10, maybe things aren’t going the way you envision that first game. And then to have the comeback that you guys did, just what that meant to you and what that felt like from your perspective? DARRELL BEVELL: My emotions right now I can’t even think straight. I’m trying to wrap my head around this whole thing and what just happened. Like I said it was a great job of these guys believing from the moment we started till the end. My mentality was that, like if I’m going to lead these guys I gotta have that same belief. I believe in these guys. I believe in what we’re trying to do. And it goes to them. I mean those guys believed in themselves as well, and I think it showed with how they reacted in those situations and how they played today.
Q. You did talk this week about playing fun, loose, hair on fire. Do you think that message was reflected in the ability to come back and make those plays in such a critical short stretch? DARRELL BEVELL: Well, I wish you could be in this locker room right now. I think that would answer your question. It’s a Buzzing in there, and, yes, definitely I think those guys really truly believed in themselves all the way. Again, I know I’m going to keep saying the same thing, but they didn’t measure the game. The whole game it didn’t matter when the scoreboard was. That’s what I asked them to do, just keep playing and keep playing and good things would happen at the end, and it did. And they made it happen.
Q. Congratulations. Can you just speak to the performance of your quarterback today, 402 yards, led that 96-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Just what he’s meant to this victory. DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah. I mean, that was really vintage Matthew Stafford right there. We kind of let him play today, and he just responded in a big way. You gotta give credit to all the guys around him. Huge plays, Danny Amendola laying out there on that one drive and catching that big ball there. The offensive line responded against a really good front. Matt Nelson had to step in there and play right tackle. A converted defensive lineman comes out and plays tackle in the National Football League, blocking for Matt. Just a great day by those guys, and Matt led the way.
Q. You said this week you wanted to have big plays back in this offense. It looks like that was really the case this week. You guys took a number of shots down the field, hit quite a few of them. Was that really a priority for you this week setting up the game plan was to take those shots and then follow through on them? DARRELL BEVELL: I mean they’re always in there. I think we just probably had a little bit more focus on them this week, and Matthew responded in a good way. The guys were ready with a game plan, and it was fun just to how everything showed up today. To go back, I’ll go back and look at it and answer your question. I don’t even know what happened in terms of the explosive plays and that kind of thing, but I like how we were playing out there.
Q. I know you said you were kind of all over the place mentally right now, but now that the game is over,what has this week actually been like for you? Walk me through that a little bit. DARRELL BEVELL: Amazing. I mean amazing. I mean amazing week. It was hard. Everything that I did, like I told you guys earlier, was a new experience, including today, you know, even with the head set that I had on with different lines, talking to different people. I just gotta give credit to all the people around me. I have such good support here, that really everybody just kind of chipped in and did their job in an excellent way just to help me to be able to focus on what I needed to focus on. So I’m thankful for all those people. And then the players, I mean they responded today. Hopefully you could see it. Hopefully it showed in the way they played and it just showed up in their demeanor as they were on the field flying around.
Q. Coach, kind of off those same notes there, what was the one thing, I guess, that you could look back this week that was different maybe from the previous weeks of the season when Matt was here that you kind of saw stick out the most? DARRELL BEVELL: You know, like I told the players from day one, we had a windshield and no rear view mirror or. So we’re not looking back at anything that happened in the past. We’re working from the day that I was able to step in front of them to now. And I’m just excited how they responded. I’m excited how they played. I’m excited for them to be able to get a win. I think it’s sometimes understated how hard it is to win in this league, and for them to respond the way they did at the end was just amazing.
Q. As you think about this week and everything you’ve been through and obviously pulling out the win here today, what was it like in the post-game locker room for you, talking to the guys? What was that scene like for you? DARRELL BEVELL: It was — I mean it’s amazing. I mean I’m still on cloud nine right now. I’m not quite over it. These guys responded in there. It’s just amazing, and I mean there was excitement. There’s hugs, all that stuff going on in there. And I couldn’t be more happy for them and how they played and for them to get that win.
Q. Did you get a game ball? Did the players give you a game ball after the game? Is that something that happened? DARRELL BEVELL: I did. Matthew Stafford presented the game ball in there. It was just — I mean I can’t even describe it, just amazing.Q. Can you just describe Romeo’s play a little bit coming off the edge there? He’s been really good for you all season, but to get his hand on that ball, what did you see on that play? What was your reaction when you saw it happen? DARRELL BEVELL: I mean huge play. Huge play for us. We preached it during the week, and to get that big play right there in that moment, I mean it changed the whole momentum of the game. And just a cool play. I didn’t see exactly everything that happened, but I know that he’s the guy that got the ball out. And just so happy for him, the defense and the way they responded in the second half.
Q. So you did get a game ball, Matthew presented it to you, Coach? DARRELL BEVELL: Yes, he did.
Q. I was just curious at halftime, were you able to address both the offense and defense and what was your message?DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah. I addressed the whole team. When we called them up before we went out, and I just told them to continue to keep playing. Don’t measure the game. You know, play just until there’s no time left on the clock, and continue to play with the joy and the enthusiasm that we wanted to play with and we’ll see what happens at the end. And I think they really did exactly that and good things happened.
Q. Darrell, you’ve talked about the words play with your hair on fire, play loose, energy. Beyond the words, what did you actually do action wise to Foster that? Were meetings shorter? Was it livelier? Did you play games? Music? Like what viscerally was different? DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I mean there was definitely changes. I don’t want to get into all the things that we did different, but, yes, there was different meetings, there was different practice schedule. There was different ways that I wanted them to handle situations. We talked about it, and I was proud of them. I think it showed up today.
Matthew Stafford Postgame Press Conference
Detroit Lions – 34, Chicago Bears – 30
Q. Congratulations on the win. Can you just take me into the locker room after the game, and then that moment, how nice of a moment was that for you to give Bevell the game plan? MATTHEW STAFFORD: It was great. Guys were having a blast. Obviously it was a crazy one, down to the wire. Defense made some huge plays late in the game. We were able to put enough points on the board to obviously come away with a win. Happy for Bev, man, happy for our team. Just excited to get a win, and thought it was fitting. He needs to get that game ball. It’s his first game as a head coach, and to get a win huge.
Q. Bev said this week he wanted the big plays back in the offense, and it seems like you guys were able to do that in the passing. You had five different guys catch a pass at 20-plus yards today. What did you see from them that allowed you guys to kind of hit some of those big plays that maybe you hadn’t had in previous games as much? MATTHEW STAFFORD: I mean, they’re a really good defense. It’s a great front and a really good back end. So I gotta give a ton of credit to our offensive line. They did an outstanding job of giving me time in the pocket. Obviously Matt Nelson had to come in and block Khalil Mack all day. Guy was playing defensive line two years ago. So pretty impressive what he was able to do today; and, really, all those guys up front did a great job. So without time, I can’t get the ball down the field. And then our guys on the back end were getting open and making big plays. It wasn’t anything schematic from them. They’re a defense that’s really stingy and tough. Just proud of our guys for making plays.
Q. Can you take us inside the huddle on the 96-yarddrive there, what it was like going down the field and hitting Marv there at the end? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Yeah. I knew we needed to score, and the quicker, the better. So it was just a two-minute ball. Was able to dial up some good plays, and our guys made some big wins. Danny made some huge plays on that drive, some huge catches for us. And then obviously the big one to Marv there at the end was great to score right before the two-minute. Kind of gives an some extra timeout trying to stop them. So all of that went into it,and it was just trying to be a little bit aggressive there. And Marv ran a great route and got behind them and kind of lulled them to sleep, and I was able to step up and throw it to him for a big one. So it was a huge drive. And then obviously our defense went out and made the play of the game. There were a couple of them in there on defense,and they made some big ones. So I’m happy for those guys. When we needed them, they were clutch and made some huge plays and it was awesome.
Q. You’re so close to Darrell, as close as any player. He’s worked with you on the offense. Since he go there last year. I guess just speaking generally how good do you feel for the guy for the way this turned out, his first game, being able to hand him a game ball after a win like this? MATTHEW STAFFORD: I’m obviously really happy for him, happy for our team. He cares about our guys. He’s only been on the offensive side of the ball for the majority of his time here, only one week here with everybody. But I think his energy is infectious, and guys feed off of it, and I really appreciate him as a person. And just happy that he helped us get the win today. Guys went out there and played fast and free. And it wasn’t perfect. There’s plays we want back, but never quit, never looked at the scoreboard; just keep playing and let it all kind of figure itself out and it did.
Q. How do you feel the changes that Darrell made throughout the week helped you all today? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Yeah, I don’t know. I think we still gotta go out and play good on Sunday. That’s the biggest thing that boils down to it. I think guys enjoyed being in the building this week, had a great time. Still worked hard and got our work done, but it was just obviously a different message from a different guy. And not saying anything against Coach Patricia. It was just different, you know. And sometimes that sparks the guys. But I was just happy that we came out here today and got the win.
Q. How was it different to you? Because you’ve been around longer than really anybody, except for Muhlbach. How was this different for you this week than weeks prior? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Well, you know, each person is different. And, you know, he’s just a different person. Personality wise, he’s a different person, schematically, all that kind of stuff. He’s just a different person. He was just genuine to himself. He’s learning on the job as well and was just honest with us and told us to go out there and play with a bunch of energy, bunch of passion, bunch of fun,and we did that.
Q. I really don’t know any other way to ask this. Do you feel like with Patricia that you guys could have pulled this off today? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Yeah. Anytime the ball is snapped, I feel like we have a chance to win the game. That’s the way I feel about it. I feel like every time I step on the field I got a great chance to help our team win. Obviously head coaches put their touch on the team and their personality on the team, but we still gotta go out and make plays, and we were able to do that today.
Q. I don’t know if you’ll have to send Russell Wilson a check after this question, but did Bevell let you cook today? MATTHEW STAFFORD: (Laughs). Yeah. Is that trademarked yet? No, I don’t think he’s not been letting me cook, you know. I think we just did a good job of making plays. You know, and the more success we have early on throwing the ball, I think the more comfortable everybody gets in calling it. That’s a really good pass rush that we just played against and a really good back end, and they kept me clean all day, which was awesome. And when I’m clean, those guys are getting open, it was just a nice rhythm today that we were able to get into and stay in.
Q. We’re focusing on all the great moments today. You had the interception. I don’t know the last time I saw a 313-pound guy jump a route. And then the three-and-out, obviously a very frustrating sequence. How did you stay confident, poised, positive and going into the opportunity to lead the comeback there after those two disheartening drives? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Yeah. We were moving it on the drive. The guy picked it. We were kneeling the ball at the end of the game, and I was talking to him, and I went and patted down his left arm, was looking for a foreign substance, just to see what he had, what kind of pine tar he had on that left arm. But, nah, it was a great play by him. I mean I thought worst case, he bats it down, I mean the pick. Kudos, tip your hat to him and keep moving. The next drive, wanted one of those back. Really wish I would have stuck the third-down ball right on Marv early. I thought the quarter safety was kind of sitting, but hindsight probably had a chance to just stick it on him, keep the chains moving. But I felt like I was in a good rhythm all day, even after that drive and the pick and the drive where it kind of went three-and-out. I still felt like I was in a good rhythm. So I was excited to go out there and get a chance to be aggressive again and go see what I could do.
Q. Matthew, you guys have talked about Bevell’s approach just a little bit freer, looser, just let it loose,have some fun out there. Do you think if you guys can play like this, letting it loose, so to speak, that things are still possible? I know the playoffs are a long shot,but they’re still possible. Do you feel like playing this way, we could see a different team down the stretch? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Listen, you’re going to hate the answer. We gotta take it one week at a time, there’s no question about it. But that was his first message to our team was, hey, guys, we’re — whatever we were, two games back of Arizona with five to play; there’s a lot of football left. And Denver just played a game with no quarterback. So who knows what’s going to happen. We just gotta go out there and continue to play, continue to show up to work with a great attitude, be ready to work and have fun while we do it and go out there and turn it loose on Sundays.
Q. It looked like the energy — a lot of times late in the season guys are making looking ahead or it’s an audition for next year. Did you definitely feel that there was still something going on here with this season,whether it’s playing for Bevell or whatever, it’s still intact? MATTHEW STAFFORD: Yeah. I mean, we’re still a team. We play for each other. We put a bunch of work in. Nobody’s had an easy year. We’re all going through this thing together. We’re trying to get it right. So we’re all pulling for each other, but yeah, everybody was out there,juiced up and ready to go play. And obviously the more plays that we make, the more excitement there’s going to be on the sidelines, so it was great to make some of those plays and get everybody going.
