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November
24, 2018
When the season began, I said if the
Bears could gain a split in their divisional games there
was a good chance of making the playoffs. They won their third game in 12 days against
divisional opponents, assuring the split with two
more division games left. Winning the NFC North is a distinct possibility,
after the Bears defeated the Detroit Lions in the annual
Thanksgiving Day game. The Lions are always tough in this game and the
Bears struggled, but they stayed on a roll and won their
fifth straight game, 23-16.
The game started auspiciously, with the Lions taking
advantage of a fumble by Bears’ tight end Trey Burton and the resulting short
field to cash in on running back LeGarrette Blount’s touchdown. The Bears
found themselves in an unfamiliar position, trailing
7-0. Quarterback Chase Daniel was making his first
start since 2014, subbing for the injured Mitch Trubisky.
Completing mostly short passes, he moved the ball into position for a
Cody Parkey field goal and he connected his fourth straight. Daniel was
smoothly operating the Bears’ offense and they scored a go-ahead touchdown
on a lob in the end zone to reserve running back Taquan Mizzell. Inexplicably,
Coach Matt Nagy went for a two-point conversion which failed. Instead
of leading by a field goal the score was 9-7. In the second half, Blount scored
his second touchdown and the Bears trailed going into the fourth quarter 13-9. Daniel, who
completed 27 passes in 30 attempts for 230 yards, led the Bears on a long dive downfield capped with a
short lob pass to wide-open running back Tarik Cohen in the end zone.
Bears lead 16-13.
The
defense once again proved to be the decisive factor, holding the Lions to seven points in the first
half. Coming off a game on only three days’ rest, it seemed the defense was
tiring in the second half. Detroit easily drove about 70 yards, ending
with a fourth down and short yardage near the end zone. Detroit Coach
Matt Patricia decided to tie the game with a field goal. With nothing to lose, why
not
go for the win? However, this seemed to be the right decision when Detroit got
the ball back.
The
Bears have always discussed needing playmakers. They
found one in second-year cornerback Eddie Jackson, who
intercepted Lions quarterback Matt Stafford and returned it 41 yards
for a touchdown and seven-point lead. This game was
not quite over as the Bears went three-and-out on their final
possession. The Lions had the ball on their 41-yard line. The Bears
were surrendering huge gains on Lions’ runs and Stafford guided
his team to the Bears’ 10-yard line. In trying to tie the game and
force overtime, they got no yardage on first down and had an
incomplete pass on second down. On third down another playmaker, safety
Kyle Fuller, intercepted an overthrown end zone pass.
The Bears are now 8-3 and control their own
destiny. The best-case scenario would be to clinch the division
before their last two games against the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota
Vikings. Prior to that are very winnable games and the L.A. Rams. Two
wins and they should make the playoffs. Although Daniel played well,
it will be nice to get Trubisky back and shoot for the division
championship and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
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