Defense can’t hold off Lions
Fields has another big day in a close loss
Bears quarterback Justin Fields had another incredible running game Sunday at Soldier Field, rushing for 147 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown.
But that wasn’t enough to help the Bears to a victory
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell earned his first road win with the 31-30 victory. It was the Lions’ first victory on an opponent’s turf since beating the Bears on Dec. 6, 2020, at Soldier Field.
The Lions took the 31-30 lead on Jamaal Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes, 21 seconds to play. That capped a 91-yard drive that included a 44-yard pass from Jared Goff to Tom Kennedy, who got by cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
The Bears had a chance to win it in the final two minutes, but Fields was sacked twice in their final three plays.
A week after running for an NFL quarterback record 178 yards against the Miami Dolphins, Fields ran for 147 and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Fields went from a cringeworthy mistake to a mind-blowing touchdown in about a minute of game time. He threw a pick-six to Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah that tied the game early in the fourth quarter, then broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run.
Fields weaved through the Lions defense at the line of scrimmage and then outran four Lions defenders to the end zone. Okudah was in pursuit until making a final diving tackle attempt at the 5-yard line.
Fields’ touchdown, followed by a missed extra point from kicker Cairo Santos, gave the Bears a
30-24 lead.
The Bears looked like they were ready to cruise to a win late in third quarter when Cole Kmet got wide open behind the Lions defense.
Fields launched a pass to him, and Kmet caught it and ran the final 18 yards untouched into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown, his second score of the day. Earlier in the third quarter, Fields hit Kmet with a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 17-10 Bears lead.
But the Lions hit back in the fourth quarter on a drive aided by four Bears penalties.
Long snapper Patrick Scales was called for holding on a punt. Kyler Gordon was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a late hit on Goff. And Johnson was penalized twice for illegal hands to the face, one of which negated a Jack Sanborn interception.
The Bears committed nine penalties for 86 yards.
Fields’ interception came on a poor decision and throw, and Okudah returned the pick 21 yards for a touchdown.
Fields put more of his running magic on display late in the second quarter. On third-andgoal from the 1, he escaped a sack attempt from Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs at the 10 and thundered into the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-10 tie at halftime.
His run capped a 75-yard touchdown drive in which he hit Byron Pringle for a 12-yard gain and Darnell Mooney for a 13-yarder that got the Bears to the 4.
The Lions took a 10-3 lead on Goff ’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright on fourth down with 7:21 to play in the second quarter.
Goff had completions of 21, 14, 22 and 20 yards on the drive. Bears cornerback Lamar Jackson, who was filling in for Johnson, was called for pass interference against Kennedy in the end zone, bringing the Lions to the 1-yard line. The Bears defense came up with three big stops short of the goal line, but Wright was wide open in the end zone on fourth down.
The Bears and Lions traded field goals on their opening drives. Santos made a 33-yarder and Michael Badgley, who filled in for the Bears for one game this year while Santos was out, made a 25-yarder.
The Bears were without three starters: right guard Teven Jenkins (hip), cornerback Kindle Vildor (ankle) and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee). They activated Pringle off injured reserve Saturday, and receivers N’Keal Harry and Velus Jones Jr. were inactive — the second straight week for Jones, a rookie third-round pick.