Lions win 34-22 for NFC North's first win in more than two years

The Bears came into play Sunday against the Lions without winning a NFC North match since Halloween night in 2016. Jay Cutler was quarterback, Mitch Trubisky was a student and Matt Nagy was an assistant to chiefs who had never called an NFL play.

The Cubs were two days away from victory in the World Series.

The Bears left the game at Soldier Field after ruthlessly defeating the Lions 34-22 to launch their divine challenge in three 12-day games. The top seeds (6-3) will be in good health – and winners of three consecutive games – before their showdown on Sunday night against the Vikings (5-3-1) at Soldier Field. And then, they hope, for the Thanksgiving revenge against the Lions in Detroit.

"I think the guys have come out hot, ready to play," said defensive end Akiem Hicks. "We really felt like having to affirm our position in our division. This is what you want to do each time you face a divisional opponent. You want to make sure that they know that they are playing the Chicago Bears on their court and that the match is going to be long. "

Lions have never had a chance. The Bears have scored touchdowns on each of their first four records for the first time since 1993. Their fifth record is over by the end of the first half. The Lions only managed a touchdown by Kerryon Johnson in the first half and were led 26 to 7 after 30 minutes.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky had 158.3 half-time passes – "That's perfect?" Asked Nagy hopefully – and finished the game with 23 assists for a total of 355 yards, with three affected and no interception. He and Tarik Cohen both ran for a touchdown, Trubisky for four yards and Cohen for three.

Trubisky's 148.6 pass mark is the highest in franchise history among quarterbacks who have made at least 30 assists in a game.

Linebacker Khalil Mack had two of the Bears' six bags on his return after a right ankle injury. Receiver Allen Robinson, victim of a groin injury, who forced him to sit with Mack in the previous two games, caught six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns .

Three points from the Bears – cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Prince Amukamara had interceptions and safety Adrian Amos found a fumble – gave them 24 points on the season, two more than in 2017.

"Any win is nice, especially in the division," said cornerback Kyle Fuller.

The only player not to feel good is kicker Cody Parkey, who missed four kicks – two more points and two goals – by hitting the right post.

Nagy admitted that the absences – all of which occurred before the middle of the third quarter – affected his decision to play the rest of the game. Nevertheless, he said, there was "no chance", the Bears would try other kickers to take Parkey's place this week.

"We have momentum and we are currently riding," said Bobby Massie's tackle. "And everyone came out of the game in good health."

Hunting in the north of the NFC is a foreign territory around Halas Hall. John Fox has won three divisional games in three seasons. Since the dismissal of Lovie Smith, the Bears finished last in the division all seasons except 2013.

"We're not talking about the past, man," said Hicks.

The Bears play as if they were trying to bury the past. Beat the Vikings at prime time would be their biggest spade all season.

Rookie receiver Anthony Miller, who has five assists for a 122-yard career record and a 45-yard touchdown, knows what next week will mean – even though he described the Lions victory as "very important" for the future of the Bears.

"It just shows what we can do as a team; it shows what we are capable of, "he said," and we have a big one next week against the Vikings. "