Chicago Bears: 3 Takeaways vs. Lions in Week 11

The Chicago Bears took on the Detroit Lions in a Week 11 division matchup. The Bears played better than last week, yet once again came out on the losing end.

The Chicago Bears faced the Detroit Lions in another NFC North Division battle. After a lackluster effort against the hated Green Bay Packers (how do you not get your team up for the Packers?), Chicago played better but still came up on the wrong end of the score.

The Bears came out smoking to start the game, going 70 yards in 6:39 on their first drive. Unfortunately, the drive stalled at the Lions’ 5-yard line and they settled for a field goal. It was the first time all season they scored on their first drive. There was a nice mix of passes and runs on the drive. That differed from the run, run, pass pattern the team had for most of the season. They passed six times and ran six times.

The defense also started out quickly, forcing a fumble by Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. Akiem Hicks recovered the fumble and the Bears were in business again. After a 50-yard scamper and another four-yard run by Jordan Howard, Mitchell Trubisky threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Adam Shaheen. Suddenly the Bears found themselves with a 10-0 lead.

Before we got comfortable with expecting a win, Stafford’s offense woke up and pretty much controlled the game from there on out. By halftime it was 21-17 Lions.

The Bears continued their pattern of struggling in the second and third quarters, then mounted a comeback in the fourth. It was all for naught, as Connor Barth missed a 42-yard field goal badly (like double vision badly) that would send the game into overtime.

Here are some takeaways from the game.