Bears at Lions: Highlights, score and recap
By James Dudko
The Detroit Lions rallied in the fourth quarter to beat NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears 20-17 in Week 14. Here are the highlights and key players from the game at Ford Field.
The Detroit Lions built a 13-3 lead in the third quarter, before two quick touchdowns put the Chicago Bears ahead. Those scores set the table for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to engineer yet another comeback in the fourth quarter.
Stafford duly obliged when he scampered over the line from seven yards out with barely over three minutes remaining to settle the game at Ford Field in Week 14.
The win means the Lions improve to 9-4 atop the NFC North standings, while the Bears are guaranteed another season of double-digit losses.
An exchange of field goals saw Connor Barth and Matt Prater boot three-pointers for each team in the first half. The Lions took the lead when Stafford connected with Anquan Boldin from 16 yards, before Prater extended the advantage with a 54-yard kick at the start of the third.
The Bears needed a spark and got one when backup quarterback Matt Barkley hit unheralded wide receiver Cameron Meredith for a 31-yard touchdown. Momentum appeared to swing permanently in favor of the Bears when rookie cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc took an interception 24 yards for six.
Down by four, it was time for Stafford to weave his magic. He hit Boldin for 23 yards, before a pass interference penalty made his job easier. Stafford scampered into the end zone for the winner two plays later.
Three Stars
1. Anquan Boldin
He scored and reeled in a clutch grab on what proved to be the game-winning drive. All in a Sunday’s work for Boldin.
The veteran is 36, but the discipline, tenacity and winning attitude he’s brought to the Motor City have made a huge difference to these Lions. Boldin was never going to be Calvin Johnson mark II, but he will be the target Stafford can rely on come playoff time.
2. Dwayne Washington
Stafford and the Lions always seem to be looking for some balance courtesy of the running game. They actually found some against the Bears, albeit from an unlikely source.
Rookie Dwayne Washington reeled off 64 yards on 16 carries to keep an opportunistic Chicago D’ honest. The Lions will be a team to fear if Washington can repeat his production week-to-week.
3. Akiem Hicks
There aren’t many bright spots for the Bears this season, but Akiem Hicks is surely one of them. The rugged defensive tackle was again in game-wrecking mode in Week 14.
Hicks was in on six tackles, including four solo stops. He also sacked Stafford.
The Bears have struggled to settle on a defensive philosophy between the caution of coordinator Vic Fangio and the aggressive instincts of head coach John Fox. But no matter what brand of defense becomes the vogue in the Windy City, Hicks has to be the focal point of this unit.
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Hicks was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. He put up big numbers against the Niners, including: “two sacks, 10 tackles, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble,” per CSN Chicgao’s John Mullin.
The Bears beat the Lions in Week 1. If they are going to do it again, they’ll need Hicks at his destructive best.
Next Week
The Lions will be on the road against the New York Giants in Week 14, while the Bears host old enemy the Green Bay Packers.