The Detroit Lions hadn’t won a Thanksgiving game since 2016. Lions fans had to unexpectedly sweat out breaking that streak.
They can thank a game-management fiasco by the Chicago Bears.
The Bears, who had a timeout left, let the clock run down to the final seconds after a sack, trailing 23-20. It ran down too far, and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw incomplete on the final play.
The Lions ended up getting the 23-20 win. A questionable defensive pass interference penalty downfield on a fourth-and-14 desperation pass gave the Bears a first down well within field-goal range. But the drive moved back and then the Bears mismanaged the clock as poorly as you’ll see in the NFL.
It’s hard to be sharp every single half of an NFL season, and for most of this season the Lions have been very good. The Lions’ second half wasn’t impressive, but at least they didn’t take another Thanksgiving loss. After how they dominated the first half, it would have been a severe letdown. As is, another win and a 11-1 record is just fine as they chase the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Lions dominate the 1st half
The Bears have been playing better the last couple weeks. They were a blocked field goal from beating the Green Bay Packers and took the Minnesota Vikings to overtime. The Bears were 4-7 coming in but haven’t been an inept team lately.
The Lions made the Bears look like a college team in the first half.
In the first quarter, the Lions out-gained the Bears 214-11 and had 15 first downs (a ridiculous amount in a quarter of football) to zero for the Bears. Detroit scored on the first play of the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to LaPorta to take a 10-0 lead.
The Lions offense has been fantastic all season, and the defense has made major strides to match it. The Bears’ first three possessions all ended in a three-and-out. They didn’t get a first down until 51 seconds remained in the first half. The Bears have had some awful games on offense this season, but Thursday’s first half seemed to be more about the Lions defense dominating them. The Bears had 53 yards in the first half. The Lions had 279. It seemed like Detroit would blow them out.
But give the Bears credit. The game was a lot different in the second half.
Bears stay in the game
The Lions were clearly superior in the first half but some red-zone issues and a Gibbs fumble deep in Bears territory kept the score to a manageable 16-0 for Chicago at halftime. Right after the half, Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen for a touchdown and the Bears cut their deficit to 16-7. The Lions came right back. Aided by a questionable horse-collar penalty call on a third-down stop, the Lions went downfield and LaPorta got his second touchdown.
But the Bears kept hanging around. Williams calmed down and made plays. The Lions offense didn’t move up and down the field as easily, and a missed field goal in the fourth quarter by Detroit kept the door open for a comeback. Williams had a nice pass to D.J. Moore for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:36 left, and despite a wretched first half the Bears were within three points.
The Bears forced a punt but Detroit had good coverage and downed it at the 1-yard line. Williams kept the Bears’ hopes alive with a 25-yard pass to Moore on third down. Chicago moved it to midfield at the two-minute warning. A sack set the Bears’ drive back, and they faced a fourth-and-4 just outside of field-goal range at Detroit’s 44-yard line. There was an offensive pass interference call that negated a Moore catch for a first down, and then Williams threw it deep on fourth-and-14. Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor was hand-fighting with Moore and officials called the penalty. That kept the Bears alive.
The drive stalled after that, with a sack and a penalty pushing them back. Williams was sacked with 30 seconds left and it took too long to get the play in and run it. Williams looked like a rookie trying to get the team organized. The snap came with about six seconds left and he held it too long before throwing it downfield.
It was a win for the Lions. Ie
Live45 updates
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Lions hold on for 23-20 win as Bears mishandle final seconds
The Detroit Lions picked up a messy but still effective win as Chicago completely mishandled the final seconds of the game.
Despite having a full timeout left, the Bears did not take it, and the clock slipped away as Williams’ final pass fell incomplete.
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Chicago’s final drive further hampered by flags
The Bears had a first down locked up, but were sent back with an illegal use of hands call. Williams was sacked on the next play.
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Dueling pass interference flags create chaos in the final minute
On fourth down, Bears tight end Cole Kmet was called for offensive pass interference, forcing Chicago to replay fourth down with a ten-yard penalty added. But the next play saw the Lions called for pass interference, and gave Chicago a sudden first down at Detroit’s 25.
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Bears allow a third sack on Williams, but are able to convert the first down
Caleb Williams was sacked again on this drive, with his third sack of the day coming from Al-Quadin Muhammad. But Williams was able to get two big plays in a row, with a 14-yard pass to DJ Moore and a 12-yard rush from D’Andre Swift getting the Bears over the line for a first down.
Chicago now has two minutes and 50 yards to go in order to get a game-tying (or -winning) score.
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Massive first down keeps the game alive for Chicago
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Detroit goes three-and-out but at least they got a great punt
Lions special teams did the absolute most to down the punt on the one-yard line.
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Monster touchdown pass from Williams to DJ Moore
It’s now a one-score game, with Williams getting the long throw to DJ Moore and bringing the Bears within three points.
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Even down 10 points, Caleb Williams keeps pushing
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Detroit misses the field goal
Jake Bates has made three field goals today, but his fourth goes wide right. It’s still 23-13, with Detroit’s lead a little slimmer than they’d like.
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Jameson Williams flagged for taunting
Lions receiver Jameson Williams got a little too chirpy after a short gain, taunting defensive back Tyrique Stevenson and tossing the ball into Stevenson’s face. The unsportsmanlike conduct flag moved things back to second-and-22 for Detroit.
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DJ Reader gets the massive sack on Caleb Williams
DJ Reader gets his second sack of the game on Caleb Williams, resulting in a loss of 11 yards. Williams’ next pass is incomplete (and nearly intercepted), and the Bears will have to punt…again.
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Keenan Allen is down after that last play, but it’s unclear if there’s a serious injury or not. Allen has both of Chicago’s touchdowns today, and would be a huge loss for the Bears offense if he’s ruled out.
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Caleb Williams finds Keenan Allen for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion is no good
Chicago is determined to make this a game worth watching, with Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen for the second touchdown of the day.
But the Bears fail to get the two-point conversion, and the score stays at 23-13.
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Big 29-yard gain for D’Andre Swift
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Goff and LaPorta connect for their second touchdown
Jared Goff fakes the pitch to the backfield and finds an open Sam LaPorta for their second touchdown connection of the day. Detroit takes a 23-7 lead.
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Jameson Williams with the hurdle to get the Lions into the red zone
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Caleb Williams’ touchdown pass is all the more impressive given that it came right after an awkward tackle from Jack Campbell. Williams’ legs were bent back at an awkward angle on his way down, but he seems to be doing just fine — and has gotten Chicago within nine points.
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Bears bring the score to 16-7 with an excellent touchdown throw from Williams
Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen again with a massive 31-yard touchdown strike, cutting through Detroit’s deficit. Chicago is still in this thing.
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With the second half underway, Caleb Williams gets off a big throw to pull Chicago out of a tough spot
It looked like things were off to a tough start for the Bears, with Caleb Williams getting sacked by Lions lineman DJ Reader and his next pass falling incomplete. But at third-and-15, Williams connected with Keenan Allen for an 18 yard gain, getting the first down and proving that the Bears have some life.
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Two Lions injuries to open the second half
#Lions Injury Update:
DL Levi Onwuzurike, Hamstring, Out
DL Josh Paschal (Knee) has been downgraded to Out
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 28, 2024
