Lions turn boos into delirium with stunning comeback win against Bears

Author of the article:

Jim Parker • Windsor Star

Published Nov 20, 2023 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read

David Montgomery #5 celebrates the go-ahead touchdown late in Sunday’s 31-26 win over the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Photo by Gregory Shamus /Getty Images

Boos have rained down on the Detroit Lions from the Ford Field faithful many times over the years.

In the past, it was usually because the Detroit team simply wasn’t good enough to compete, but on Sunday it was more frustration by the fans imploring the Lions to play to the potential the team had shown through the first nine games of the season.

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“They had a lot to boo about,” said Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff, who had three of Detroit’s turnovers in the game by tossing a trio of interceptions. “They’re passionate and emotional. They win games for us here at home, they really do, with how loud they are on defence and then how much energy we feel from them after we score, a big play, all that stuff. It’s so important. I understand their passion, and feel their pain at times, and I appreciate them for being as passionate as they are.”

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But it was delirium from the fan base when the Lions scored twice in the final three minutes of the game to stun the Chicago Bears 31-26 as the Lions improved to 8-2 on the season for the team’s best start since 1962.

“That’s a long time,” Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell said of the 1962 team that went 11-3 overall and 8-2 through 10 games. “It’s a long time and it’s something that we talked about before the season. Not, ‘Hey, let’s get some of the wins before the 1962 season,’ but just, ‘Let’s make the most of the season.’

“We got a chance to do something special and let’s take it one game at a time. Every week is different, every opponent is different, every matchup is different and you just don’t know what it’s going to take to win against that opponent.”

Chicago took the opening kickoff and drove the field to take an early lead and Goff was intercepted on Detroit’s first two possessions. But Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton forced a fumble that linebacker Alex Anzalone recovered and Jamyr Gibbs’ two-yard run had Detroit even at 7-7.

Chicago regained the lead on a field goal late in the half, but Goff drove the Lions 75 yards in just 96 seconds and hit Amon-Ra St. Brown to put the Lions up 14-10 at the half.

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“I think it speaks volumes,” Campbell said of Goff bouncing back. “He doesn’t have his best game, but it’s really when you need him most, in a two-minute drive at the end of the half, that was pretty big.”

Detroit’s struggles continued in the second half. After a Chicago field goal made it a one-point game, Craig Reynolds fumbled the ensuing kickoff leading to a Bears touchdown and Detroit trailed 20-10 after three quarters.

“It’s about being there for my teammates and being the best I can be on every play, and throughout the game, even when things aren’t going my way,” Goff said. “I’m not playing as well as I’d like to early on, how do I find a way to centre myself back to be what my true job is? To be the best on every play and do everything I can for my teammates.”

And that’s exactly what Goff delivered down the stretch.

Goff’s third interception set the stage for another Chicago field goal to extend the lead to 23-10 and another field goal had the Bears up 26-10, but the Lions were far from finished.

Goff connected with Jameson Williams for a 32-yard touchdown to pull Detroit within 26-21 with just under three minutes to play.

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A quick three-and-out series for the Bears gave Detroit the ball back with just 15 seconds coming off the clock.

“That’s probably one of the most fun games that I’ve been part of,” Williams said. “It was up and down, we had some bad drives on offence, but we came back out and fixed it.”

The Lions again drove the field and David Montgomery ran in the go-ahead score with 31 seconds to play. Goff hit Sam LaPorta with a two-point convert and the Lions led 29-26.

Before Chicago could even think about a tying field goal, Lions’ defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sacked Bears’ quarterback Justin Field and forced a fumble. The ball was kicked out of the end zone for a safety and that sealed the Detroit victory.

“It was not great football all around, offence, defence, we’re all not very happy, but we found a way to finish and we found ways to win games,” Hutchison said.

It’s a quick turnaround for the Lions, who will host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday for the club’s annual U.S. Thanksgiving Day game at 12:30 p.m.

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