At Detroit
12:30 p.m. ET
Dome
| TEAM | PLAY CALLING |
PERSONNEL | GAME PLANNING |
IN-GAME ADJ |
CLOCK MGMT |
HCR |
| CHI | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8.4 |
| DET | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.8 |
Key Coaching Decision #1: (DET ball, no score / fourth-and-1, CHI 16 / 10:11 Q2)
• Rather than settle for a 34-yard field goal attempt, the Lions successfully attempt a fourth-down conversion when Matthew Stafford finds fullback Nick Bellore for a first down. The Lions later score on a LeGarrette Blount touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead.
Key Coaching Decision #2: (CHI ball, leading 9-7 / 2-point conversion / 0:40 Q2)
• Rather than kick the extra point to go up 10-7, the Bears attempt a 2-point conversion and the attempt falls incomplete. The game at this point is 9-7 rather than 10-7.
Key Coaching Decision #3: (DET ball, trailing 9-7 / first-and-10, DET 25 / 0:40 Q2)
• The Lions have two timeouts and the ball at their own 25-yard line after the Bears score a touchdown. The Lions played with no urgency or pace here and settle for a Hail Mary attempt that falls short.
Key Coaching Decision #4: (DET ball, leading 13-9 / 2-point conversion / 1:35 Q3)
• The Lions score on Blount’s second rushing touchdown of the game. The Lions don’t take the PAT opportunity and instead attempt a 2-point conversion. The Matthew Stafford pass to Kenny Golladay falls incomplete. This failed attempt negates the benefit of the Bears having missed an earlier 2-point opportunity.
Key Coaching Decision #5: (DET ball, trailing 16-13 / fourth-and-1, CHI 2 / 7:44 Q4)
• Facing fourth down and one, from the Bears 2-yard line, the Lions kick a field goal to tie the game. Tying the game is prudent. However, as the two teams had been taking chances from the 2-yard line on 2-point conversion tries, there was some possibility that the Lions were going to attempt to find the end zone rather than attempt a field goal.
Key Observations:
• Bears QB Mitch Trubisky was injured and did not start. Chase Daniel started the game without taking practice reps (only was active in walk-throughs). Daniel threw for two touchdowns and 230 yards on 27-of-37 passing attempts.
• The Lions were without running back Kerryon Johnson and wide receiver Marvin Jones. It appears that they are attempting to utilize the fullback more in their offense.
• The Lions Matthew Stafford had similar numbers to Daniel (28-of-38, 236 yards) but threw two interceptions rather than two touchdowns. The two interceptions came on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter. The first interception, a pick-six by Eddie Jackson, came with the score tied and with about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The second interception ended the Lions’ chances, as Stafford threw an interception to cornerback Kyle Fuller in the end zone.
• The Bears beat three division foes in 11 days (two wins over the Lions and a win over the Vikings). They have won five straight games and are 8-3 and atop the division. Meanwhile, the Lions have lost four of five games and are in last place in the NFC North with a 4-7 record.
