Trubisky keeps Bears in playoff battle

3rd TD pass, with 2:17 to go, overtakes Lions

Mitchell Trubisky started and closed strong to overcome some shaky decisions and plays in between to keep the Chicago Bears in the NFC playoff picture.

Trubisky threw a go-ahead, 3-yard touchdown pass to David Montgomery with 2:17 left, lifting Chicago to a 24-20 win over the slumping Detroit Lions on Thursday.

The Bears took the lead on the nine-play, 90-yard drive in which Trubisky converted a pair of third downs with 35- and 32yard passes to Anthony Miller.

Chicago sealed the victory on the ensuing possession with Eddie Jackson’s interception.

Rookie quarterback David Blough led Detroit’s last drive to the Chicago 26 in the final minute before losing 13 yards on a sack to leave a desperation pass as the only option and Jackson picked off his heave.

The Bears (6-6) have won three of four games after losing four in a row, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

The Lions (3-8-1) have lost five straight for the first time under second-year coach Matt Patricia.

Detroit led for much of the game despite starting a quarterback it acquired from Cleveland for a swap of seventh-round picks after training camp.

Matthew Stafford was out for a fourth straight game with back and hip injuries and his backup, Jeff Driskel, was limited by a hamstring injury.

Blough, an undrafted player from Purdue, threw a 75-yard touchdown pass on his first completion to Kenny Golladay to pull the Lions into a 7-all tie. Blough threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones late in the first quarter to put Detroit ahead 14-7.

Trubisky had an 18-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jesper Horsted to make it 17all late in the third quarter.

Trubisky finished 29-for-38 with three touchdowns, matching a season high he also equaled in a win over Detroit earlier this month. He totaled 338 yards with an interception.

Blough was 22-for-38 for 280 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

“This is what you dream about as a kid,” Blough said. “I’m thankful for it all, all the ups and downs.”

Rick osentoski / Associated Press Bears free safety eddie Jackson, center, intercepts a pass intended for Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay to seal Chicago’s win over detroit.