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The Chicago Bears (8-3) overcame a slow start on a short rest and came back strong to beat the Detroit Lions (4-7) for the second time in three weeks. Here's what we learned from the Bears 23-16 victory on Thanksgiving day:
1. No Mitchell Trubisky was no problem for the Bears in the second game against the Lions in 11 days. Backup Chase quarterback Daniel took part in his third career start and completed 27 of his 37 effective passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions.
Daniel's familiarity with the offensive scheme of head coach Matt Nagy allowed the caller to quickly install and connect to eight different receivers. And for the most part, Daniel made good decisions and managed the game by taking what the defense had given him and choosing his places to launch it in depth. His best pass is a 14-yard touchdown on the return of Tarik Cohen's back goal. Cohen easily beat the half-corner Nevin Lawson and Daniel dropped the ball inside with a tactile touch where Cohen could carry him after crossing the goal line. Daniel even caught an 8-yard pass.
If the injury to Trubisky's right shoulder prevents him from participating in the 13th week match against the New York Giants, the Bears are well placed if Daniel has to start over.
Thursday's win brought the Bears winning streak to five games and the team improved to 8-3 this season after sweeping two games against their divisional opponent.
2. While Daniel was playing pure football, the Bears' defense complimented him by holding the Lions attack in check for most of the game. The Lions actually outnumbered the Bears in total yards (333-264), but Detroit could not beat the costly mistakes they made against one of the best defensive units in the league.
As a team, the Bears totaled two sacks and four hits. The Bears then bent their muscles by ensuring two turnovers in 4:53 at the end of the fourth quarter. The first tied at 16 and the Lions lined up for the first part. At the right moment, goaltender Eddie Jackson read the play perfectly and skipped Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's pass to pick it up and bring it back to 41 yards for a touchdown. The second interception took place at the end of the fourth quarter, as the Lions were trying to create a scenario that would allow them to play. Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller, however, pushed Stafford into the end zone.
3. The Lions were without two big weapons in attack in rookie Kerryon Johnson (knee) and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (knee), and this seemed to affect the call of the game. The Lions played cautiously in the first Half-time and Stafford completed 17 of 23 passes for a total of 92 yards, a paltry 4-yard average per pass from the team's first seven possessions.
As the Lions led 9-7 midway through the third quarter, Stafford started sneaking onto the field and getting along with wide receiver Kenny Golladay for a total of 43 yards to prepare the second touchdown LeBarrette Blount.
Stafford finished the game by completing 28 of 38 passes for 236 yards out of 28, but made mistakes at the worst moments with the choice of six and interception. The loss reduced the Lions to 4-7 during the season and was cut to last place in the North of the NFC.
4. On a unit that puts so much emphasis on outside linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson, whom the Bears have selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, could be the most valuable player of the defense. Jackson's choice of six of Jackson's 41 yards scored his fifth career touchdown, the highest level in the league since 2015.
Jackson had four interceptions during the season and Thursday marked the second consecutive game for which he had six choices. Jackson also posted a defensive touchdown in Week 9 on a 65-yard breakaway recovery. His talent for defense has contributed a lot to the Bears' winning season.
Eddie Jackson – TD's 41-yard return is his fifth career defensive:
�� most in the NFL since 2015
(Jackson was written in 2017)�� TD more defensive than 21 teams since 2017# Pick6 #DaBears
�� NFL Research (@NFLResearch)
November 22, 2018
5. Despite the defeat, Blount did his best to fill the void of Johnson's absence. And Blount's physical running style was needed against the league's first defense. Blount's power was in full display during two touchdown passes. The first 4-yard score was produced after Blount escaped from the Bears' safety, Adrian Amos, in the line of scrimmage and kept his balance to stretch in the end zone. Blount's second touchdown, which also came from 4 yards, came when he was defeated by the Bears defense on the 3-yard line. He kept his legs moving and drove the pile into the end zone.
Blount finished the game with 88 rushing yards and two goals in 19 races, a peak in the season. Each time Johnson returns, the Lions should have a battlefield of speed and power to end the season.
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