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DETROIT – The Bears entered the fourth quarter of their Thanksgiving battle in Detroit Thursday behind the 13-9 Lions after giving up an 80-yard touchdown.
By playing their third game in 12 days – and the second in just over 80 hours – the Bears could easily have reached the finish line, just winning two of the three division games.
But these resilient Bears simply refused to lose, rallying to beat the Lions 23-16.
"We ended up challenging our guys a few weeks ago, knowing we were going to play three games in 12 days," coach Matt Nagy said. "We looked at the situation as a whole, with three division games, and we took a step back and played each game one by one in a very short time.Our guys took up this challenge as a challenge and took it finished today. "
With a knotted 16-16 score, Eddie Jackson intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass and returned it intact for a 41-yard touchdown while it was only 6 o'clock. It was Jackson's fifth TD defensive in two seasons with the Bears and his second in five days.
"It was the difference in the game today, win by that touch with Eddie," Nagy said. "He had an incredible season to date, a season that I do not know if I've ever seen it."
On their way, the Lions (4-7) marched to the 11 of the Bears before Kyle Fuller took the win by scoring a Stafford pass in the corner of the endzone at 1:07 of the end .
By recording their fifth consecutive victory for the first time in six consecutive wins in 2012, the Bears (8-3) extended their first-place finish in the NFC's North Division against the Vikings (5-4-1), which welcome Packers. (4-5-1) Sunday night in Minnesota.
"I want to pay tribute to all members of our organization – the players, our coaches, the football staff, everyone – everyone who participated in this short week was not easy. [it was] A fun day. They are never easy, but we will take it for sure. "
Quarterback Chase Daniel has made his debut since 2014 and only the third of his nine-year career in the NFL, instead of injured Mitchell Trubisky, absent from Thursday's game with a right shoulder injury. Daniel completed 27 of 37 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns, no turnaround and a 106.8 passer rating.
The impressive performance of the career substitute limited a week in which the Bears did not practice any regular practice or play any game at full speed.
"You have no idea of this kid's preparation," said Nagy, who has been coaching Daniel's positions with the Chiefs from 2013 to 2015. "Every week, how does he prepare. And since the day I met him in 2013, these days do not change, he is very consistent.
"He takes this very seriously – every game he prepares himself as he's the starter – so whenever he receives the call that he'll start, he'll only never shocked and nothing will change. "
The Lions took a 7-0 lead over LeGarrette Blount's 4-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. The score came after cornerback DeShawn Shead forced Trey Burton to fumble for linebacker linebacker Jarrad Davis, who had returned 21 yards to Chicago.
The Bears reduced their deficit to 7-3 thanks to a 40-yard Cody Parkey placement with 3:58 left in the second quarter. The drive was supported by Daniel's 29-yard pass to Allen Robinson II on the right of the third and 13th.
After Roquan Smith's third Stafford bag was scored three shots on goal, the Bears took a 9-7 lead over Daniel's 10-yard touchdown pass to Taquan Mizzell Sr. with 40 points to go. first half. Daniel completed all five passes for 65 yards on the floor, highlighted by a 26-yard goal for Anthony Miller.
The Bears attempted a two-point conversion, but Daniel's pass along the line of scrimmage for Robinson was out of reach for the receiver.
The Lions regained a 13-9 lead on Blount's second touchdown at the end of the third quarter. But Daniel then took the lead with a 14-yard pass to Tarik Cohen in the right-hand corner of the end zone, giving the Bears a 16-13 lead early in the fourth period.
The Lions tied Matt Prater's 16-16 goal with 7:44 to play, scoring a goal at 7:44, but they were well off kicking after Stafford started incomplete pass in the end zone. .
Jackson and Fuller then intercepted Stafford in the last two possessions, allowing the Bears to win their third consecutive divisional game for the first time since their five-game winning streak against their opponents of NFC North in 2010.
"I'm starting to learn as a head coach with this team who we are, and it's special, it's really, and I love where we are," Nagy said. . "Every week, there is a challenge and they have accepted the challenge of going 3-0 in 12 days against three opponents of the division.
"They did that, they can check that, now they deserve to rest, they deserve that, so rest, be smart, come back and now we take the next challenge."
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