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Week 4 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 27, Detroit Lions 37
What you need to know
| Chicago Bears |
At end of the third quarter the inspired Bears held a 13--3 lead and it appeared that their injury riddled defense might carry the day. Then Detroit scored 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Bears' record fell to 1--3. Brian Griese started his first game for the Bears and threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, but one of his three interceptions was returned for a Detroit touchdown. Griese spread the ball around to seven different receivers but the Lions were able to sack him six times and hurried him most of the afternoon.
Bernard Berrian was the target on all three interceptions but two could have been caught by Berrian. The first was a short pass just over the goal line but cornerback Fernando Bryant out fought him for the ball. The second glanced off his hand near the goal line and right to Ernie Sims. In the fourth quarter, the Lions disguised a zone that Griese misread that resulted in a 64 yard interception for a touchdown. Devin Hester answered that score by returning the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Muhsin Muhammad had a productive game catching five passes including a 15 yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Cedric Benson carried 15 times 50 yards, but was also targeted eight times out of the backfield. Until the passing game becomes more of a threat, however, the Bears will face a never ending parade of defenses playing eight men in the box. TE Desmond Clark was targeted eight times and caught a short touchdown pass late in the game to bring Chicago to within a field goal. When the Bears tried the onside kick, TE Casey Fitzsimmons ran it back for the final Lions' touchdown.
The Bears sacked Kitna six times, but were unable to intercept any passes. Chicago played without injured LB Lance Briggs and both starting cornerbacks. Offensive tackle John Tait left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.
| Detroit Lions |
This victory may mark a turning point for the Detroit Lions because it was the sort of game you would ordinarily expect them to lose. After three quarters they had only scored three points, but in this game the Lions roared back and scored an NFL record 34 fourth quarter points to defeat the Bears 37--27.
Jon Kitna was efficient completing 20 of 24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Although he was sacked six times and faced a ferocious Chicago pass rush he did not throw an interception. Kevin Jones carried ten times for 38 yards and one touchdown, although 22 yards came on one carry. The Lions offense will become more balanced as Jones works his way back into the game plan. Tatum Bell added 46 yards as the Lions ground game out rushed the Bears 95 yards to 69.
Roy Williams caught six passes for 53 yards and Shaun McDonald caught three for 31 yards and a touchdown. Mike Furrey caught five balls for a team leading 91 yards.
The Lions' defense pressured Griese all day and sacked him six times. Kevin Smith returned one of their three interceptions for a 64 yard touchdown. After the Bears scored a touchdown with 52 seconds left to close to within three points they attempted an onside kick. The ball bounced out of the scrum directly to TE Casey Fitzsimmons who ran down the left sideline for the final Detroit touchdown.
What you ought to know
| QB Brian Griese, Pass: 34 - 52 - 286 - 2 TD / 3 INT, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0 |
Griese made his first start for the Chicago Bears and his first touchdown came in the second quarter. It was third and nine from the Detroit 15 yard line and the Lions rushed seven. He stood in the pocket and found Muhammad running a slant in the end zone. His second touchdown pass went to Desmond Clark with just 52 seconds in the game. He threw for 286 yards but one of his three interceptions was returned for a Detroit touchdown. Griese spread the ball around but the Lions were able to sack him six times and hurried him most of the afternoon. He hasn't started in two years, however, and had to be a little rusty. He did enough to keep Grossman on the bench, but that may change if the Bears cannot get some of their defensive starters back or their running game untracked.
| RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 15 - 50 - 0, Rec: 5 - 24 - 0 (8 targets) |
Benson only averaged 3.3 yards per carry, but also caught five passes for 24 more yards. If this becomes a trend Benson's value in PPR leagues will improve. Still, he has to improve because Chicago does not have a quarterback who can win games on his own. The Bears are looking to Benson to become the guy who can carry the team on his back.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0, Rec: 3 - 29 - 0 (3 targets) |
Peterson only came into the game to spell Benson.
| RB Garrett Wolfe, Rush: 3 - 3 - 0 |
The rookie from Northern Illinois carried three times in limited relief duty.
| RB Jason McKie (1 targets) |
The primary blocking back had zero carries and receptions, although he lit up a few linebackers.
| WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 8 - 99 - 0 (13 targets) |
Berrian was the most targeted WR for Chicago but he needs to be more consistent. On two of their first three drives he dropped third down passes that would have moved the chains. He was out fought by a corner back in the end zone for one Detroit interception and had another interception glance off his hand. Both would have been tough catches, but with a new quarterback who is bound to be rusty you have to make tough catches.
| WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 5 - 49 - 1 (7 targets) |
It was nice to see Muhammad involved in the game plan again. He scored Chicago's first touchdown when he caught a 15 yard slant pass in the second quarter, and caught five balls on the day. Through Chicago's first three games he only caught four pass.
| WR Rashied Davis, Rec: 5 - 38 - 0 (5 targets) |
Davis caught every pass thrown to him for 38 yards. He was a much more reliable target than Berrian.
| WR Devin Hester, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Hester had a limited role in the offense, but in the fourth quarter he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That score staked the Bears to their last lead of the game.
| WR Mark Bradley (1 targets) |
The former Oklahoma Sooner was targeted in the second quarter but did not record a reception.
| TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 7 - 44 - 1 (8 targets) |
The Bears needed Clark to block much of the afternoon, but he managed to slip off the line and find soft spots in the Lions' zone defense. Overall, Clark had a productive day and scored a touchdown with 52 seconds left to draw the team to within a field goal.
| TE John Gilmore (2 targets) |
Gilmore was unable to catch either of his targets.
| TE Greg Olsen |
The rookie from Miami got into the game but was not a factor.
| PK Robbie Gould 2 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points |
Gould hit field goals from 49 and 41 yards but had another one blocked. He converted all three extra points.
| CHI Rush Defense |
Kevin Jones scored on a four yard run and combined with Tatum Bell to gain 96 yards. The Bears were good enough on rush defense but they were not overwhelming.
| CHI Pass Defense |
Even though the Bears were without S Adam Archuleta and CBs Nathan Vasher and Chares Tillman, the Lions were unable to exploit their inexperienced replacements. The front four put tremendous pressure on Kitna who was unable to set up for long passes. No Detroit receiver was able to gain more than 100 yards.
| QB Jon Kitna, Pass: 20 - 24 - 247 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0 |
Kitna posted a quarterback rating of 137.3 for this game as he efficiently completed 84% of his 24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Although he was sacked six times and faced a ferocious Chicago pass rush he did not throw an interception. He stood in as the Bears unleashed a vicious pass rush, took the hit, and found his open receivers. He was sacked six times and lost one fumble.
| RB Tatum Bell, Rush: 11 - 46 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets) |
In the second quarter, Bell lost a fumble on the Chicago five yard line without being hit. He was used sparingly for the rest of the game. He finished with 46 yards and caught one pass for another seven. His role in the Lions' offense seems to be ebbing as Kevin Jones returns to full strength.
| RB Kevin Jones, Rush: 10 - 38 - 1, Rec: 2 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jones gained 38 yards on ten carries although 22 yards came on one run. He scored his second touchdown in his second week back from his foot injury, and it appears that the Lion offense will become more balanced as he works his way back into a feature role Mike Martz' game plan. After the TD, Jones leaped up on the endzone wall and climbed into the arms of the fans.
| RB Brian Calhoun |
Calhoun returned one kickoff 18 yards.
| RB T.J. Duckett |
Duckett has an ankle injury and has not played since week one.
| WR Roy Williams, Rec: 6 - 53 - 0 (6 targets) |
Williams drew lots of attention from the inexperienced Bears secondary, was held to 53 yards, but he caught every pass thrown to him.
| WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 5 - 91 - 0 (8 targets) |
On their first possession, Furrey was standing by the sidelines when Kitna threw him the ball. As he went to catch it, his foot touched the out of bound line negating the reception and the first down. Still, Furrey is tough to cover, Kitna likes to throw to him, and he led the team with 91 receiving yards.
| WR Shaun McDonald, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0, Rec: 3 - 31 - 1 (5 targets) |
McDonald ran a reverse for nine yards and caught three passes including one for four yards and a touchdown. He filled in for Calvin Johnson and the offense didn't seem to miss a beat.
| WR Troy Walters, Rec: 2 - 36 - 1 (2 targets) |
Walters scored a key touchdown for Detroit when he capped their five play, 80 yard drive with a beautiful 15 yard reception in the back right corner of the end zone. He had to stretch out to make the catch and somehow was able to get his feet down before crossing the end line. It was initially ruled incomplete, but the play was reviewed and the ruling on the field was reversed. He also returned two punts for eight yards.
| WR Calvin Johnson |
Johnson was inactive for this game with a back injury.
| TE Sean McHugh, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (1 targets) |
The big tight end caught his only target in the third quarter for a 23 yard gain.
| TE Casey Fitzsimmons |
Though not involved in the passing offense, Fitzsimmons scored the final Detroit touchdown. When the Bears tried an onside kick with less than a minute to go in the game, the ball bounced to him near sidelines and he ran 41 yards into the end zone.
| PK Jason Hanson 1 - 2 FG, 4 - 5 XP, 7 points |
Hanson made 49 yard field goal but had another one blocked. He also had one of five extra points blocked.
| DET Rush Defense |
The Lions limited Cedric Benson to 50 yards on 15 carries, a 3.3 yard average, and did not surrender a rushing touchdown. They were solid against the rush putting pressure on the Bears passing game.
| DET Pass Defense |
Griese was sacked six times and intercepted three times. One pick was returned by Keith Smith for a 64 yard touchdown. The Lions allowed Griese to make some plays but they did put pressure on the passer and were very opportunistic with the interceptions taking advantage of mishandled passes.
