Joe's Gameday Recap: Bears 24, Lions 20

Well it was all too close, but the Chicago Bears pulled out a tough win over the division rival Lions at Ford Field to bring their record to 9-3, guaranteeing a winning record for 2010 and giving the Bears a five-game winning streak. Yep. I said all that.

(9-3) Chicago Bears 24
(2-10) Detroit Lions 20

Without the help of the defense early on, Chicago’s offense put up enough points to keep them in the game until the second half where the defense finally showed their colors, holding the Lions to three points in the final two quarters.

Despite massive pressure from the Lions’ front four (especially Cliff Avril, who was in his grill all day), Jay Cutler played an efficient game, hitting at an 80% completion percentage for 234 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown to Brandon Manumaleuna. Mike Martz stuck to another balanced gameplan this week, calling 26 passes and 27 runs (not counting one Cutler scramble). And while the running game wasn’t overpowering, Chicago controlled the ball down the stretch to seal the victory with over 33 minutes in time of possession.

Defensively the Bears struggled early, giving up plays of 45 and 32 yards to rookie Jahvid Best and a 46-yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson to put the Lions ahead at the end of the first half. For a defense that shut down the Eagles for most of the game, the Bears struggled containing the Lions, missing tackles with regularity. It was an odd showing, but eventually Smith’s defense settled down. While they never took the ball away, they did force a turnover on downs late as the Lions were driving. (After they had already converted on fourth and inches earlier in the drive.) After giving up 234 yards in the first half, the Bears held tough and kept the Lions down to 68 yards in the second.

The real star of today’s win was Earl Bennett, who caught seven of the eight passes Cutler threw his way. Adept at the short underneath routes, Bennett converted first downs and kept the chains moving, racking up 104 yards through the air.

Flipping the switch, we did see some frustrating play today all over the field. The special team’s kick coverage was awful. Stefan Logan made them look inexperienced and slow on his four returns. Mike Tice’s offensive line made mistakes that would have cost the Bears a win if they had been playing a better team. They spent so much time focusing on Suh that Cliff Avril tore off on Jay Cutler with three sacks. That won’t get it done in the future.

Chicago also got some help from the inept Lions, who still haven’t discovered the way to win. Ndamukong’s penalty (which certainly didn’t look like one to me), a bad play call on fourth down and their inability to convert a turnover within the opponent’s red zone are just more examples of why this team has lost 19 STRAIGHT division games. That’s why they’re the Lions.

It was certainly more aneurysm-inducing than I had anticipated, but the Bears escaped Detroit with a hard-fought win. Let’s keep it going, shall we? Oh wait… We get the Patriots next? Crap.