Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Lions Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
DETROIT — The last time the Chicago Bears played on Thanksgiving was in John Fox’s first year as head coach, when they went in to Green Bay on a rainy, sloppy night and stunned the heavily favored Green Bay Packers in prime time. That 17-13 win went on to be former QB Jay Cutler’s first and only career win at Lambeau Field.
Fast forward to 2018 in Matt Nagy’s first year as head coach: After a wild, emotional win over the Minnesota Vikings on “Sunday Night Football” gave them complete control of the NFC North, the Bears faced a ridiculous, 85-hour turnaround to prepare for a road game in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.
To make matters worse, on Monday, the team revealed that QB Mitch Trubisky sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on a late hit from Vikings’ safety Harrison Smith in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s win. Nagy initially stated he was cautiously optimistic that Trubisky would be able to play on Thursday, but the team listed him as doubtful on their final injury report before the game and signed QB Tyler Bray to the active roster (releasing CB Marcus Cooper), indicating that backup QB Chase Daniel was all but certain to start on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field.
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Daniel spent many years as a backup QB to Drew Brees in New Orleans before signing with Kansas City and studying under Matt Nagy and Andy Reid for multiple years. So I had no reservations about Daniel’s ability to run Nagy’s offense. However, multiple other factors steered me to believe that this game would be much more difficult than when the Bears dismantled the Lions at Soldier Field just 12 days ago. In fact, I predicted the Lions to win the game outright:
The Bears poured everything into their Sunday night win. Does the defense have enough left 85 hours later? Chase Daniel can operate this offense, but Ford Field is a tough place to play. If this game were on Sunday, I think it's a different story.
Prediction: Lions 23, Bears 17. https://t.co/LWSJnC9OaX
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 21, 2018
In the end, the Bears buckled down and made just enough plays to steal a road win at Ford Field. What an unbelievable win!
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from today’s game at Ford Field below:
1. PREGAME THOUGHT: After the win in Buffalo, a 12 day stretch of three divisional games began. I was hoping that the Bears would emerge at least 2-1 from this stretch with the sequence being: Win over Lions, loss to Vikings and win over Lions again. But with the Bears winning the first two games, they’re guaranteed to be 2-1 headed into their “mini-bye” no matter what happens today in Detroit. And with either an injured Trubisky or the backup Daniel starting at QB, and the Lions struggling to stop the run even after acquiring Damon Harrison, I’d imagine that the game plan would feature plenty of Jordan Howard. So today is a good opportunity to get the running game going and ease the burden on whoever starts under center.
I wanted the Bears to come out of this brutal divisional stretch at least 2-1. They're guaranteed to be at least 2-1 and in first place after Thanksgiving already. I wouldn't mind sitting Trubisky and giving him a bye, essentially. I'd expect tons of Jordan Howard anyway.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 20, 2018
2. After the Bears forced a three-and-out on the Lions’ first possession to begin the game, Chase Daniel’s first possession was … about what you’d expect from a backup quarterback. He went 1/3 for six yards, including an incomplete pass to Taquan Mizzell on third down. The Lions defended it well, a byproduct of having a healthy CB Darius Slay back in the starting lineup. Also, please run the ball a bit going forward.
3. The Lions’ offensive game plan early on is to get the ball out of Matthew Stafford’s hands and into the hands of his receivers. The Bears teed off on Stafford when he dropped back deep consistently at Soldier Field. They’ve adjusted to the type of game plan the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots used successfully against the defense. Tackling is going to be critical today.
4. Chase Daniel single-handedly killed the Bears’ second drive of the game. After a couple of nice throws picked up two first downs, Daniel ran into a sack and then followed that up with a delay of game penalty. Inexcusable.
Chase Daniel looks like someone who hasn't taken a snap in years … Poor sequence for him. A delay of game penalty cannot ever happen to a veteran QB. Ever.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
5. Tough fumble for Trey Burton that would’ve gone for a first down. It was a bang-bang play, but a textbook Peanut Punch by the Lions’ defender stood, setting Detroit up on the Chicago 40. It killed a drive that may have resulted in points. A better play by the defender than it was a bad play by Burton. But that kind of swing can ruin a game where you’re playing your backup QB on the road. The Lions then ended up scoring a touchdown thanks to a fourth down conversion and terrible Bears’ luck. Bears down 7-0 in the second quarter, and a tough way to give up points.
This is the first Bears' time trailing since the New England game.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
6. Oh, man. After a great throw and catch to Allen Robinson on 3rd-and-13 got the Bears down near the red zone, Daniel JUST missed a wide open Tarik Cohen on third down in the end zone. What would’ve been an easy touchdown ended up being just beyond Cohen’s reach by inches. Cody Parkey kicked the field goal to put the Bears on the board 7-3, but missing out on four points like that is a huge point swing. Especially after the Bears just endured perhaps at least a 10 point swing on the previous drive with their fumble.
7. HUGE drive by Chase Daniel right before the half. He led an efficient drive, going 5-5, and hit Taquan Mizzell for a touchdown on a nice pick-play. The officials originally threw a flag for what was presumably going to be OPI, but they picked it up. I don’t love Matt Nagy’s decision to go for two there, given a 9-7 score, but I can understand it given the percentages nowadays on XP and two-point tries. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bears are also getting the ball after halftime. That may have also influenced the decision a bit.
Chase Daniel to Taquan Mizzell for the lead on the road. Just like we thought in September.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
8. The Lions had 40 seconds before halftime and they were still on their side of the field on the half’s final play. Vic Fangio called for a zero-blitz and Deon Bush sacked Matthew Stafford quickly to end the half and preserve the Bears’ 9-7 lead going into halftime. We’ve seen this before:
Great job by Vic Fangio dialing up a blitz to end the half. He also called a blitz in Arizona on the game's final play when Sherrick McManis sacked Josh Rosen to end the game. I like this style.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
9. What’s up with Trey Burton’s hands today? After a good start to their first second-half drive, a second down drop by Burton put the Bears in third and long, where Daniel was sacked. Ironically, he had a wide open Burton down the seam that would’ve been a touchdown had he seen him and hit him (assuming Burton wouldn’t drop it, of course). A promising drive results in a punt.
10. Next drive, a Burton holding penalty wipes out a first down gain. It really should’ve been a facemask instead of holding, but still. It’s been a brutal day for Trey Burton. I’m not going to rip him too much, though. He’s been great all year. Still, a tough mistake to ruin a drive that could’ve resulted in points.
11. Lions go right down the field on the ensuing drive and punch it in for a touchdown. They got two large chunk plays on play-action, thanks to their commitment to the run game (and decent success). Somehow, Roquan Smith was covering Kenny Golladay, which didn’t end well. And then the Bears couldn’t find Theo Riddick to get the Lions inside the 10. And then LeGarrette Blount drove a pile into the end zone. This is what I was worried about. Detroit failed on the two-point try, so their lead remained at 13-9.
Lions stayed committed to the run, opened up big things down the field on play-action. Bears shooting themselves in the foot instead.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
12. Credit the Bears for responding well on the ensuing drive. Buoyed by 30 yards of roughness penalties from Detroit (that were both good calls), Daniel found Cohen down the right sideline in the end zone to put the Bears back up 16-13 after the extra point. The drive featured a fun Daniel-Anthony Miller-Daniel pass play that picked up a first down and a facemask penalty as well. Nicely done by Matt Nagy to keep creativity going. I’m just still surprised by the pass-heavy offense. But I guess whatever works …
This game has been sloppy. But credit the Bears for coming up big on offense in key situations.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
13. Not a good response by the defense. They got man-handled on that ensuing drive. Well executed by Stafford. Defense just held tough enough to keep Detroit to a field goal on that drive, which ended right near the goal line. Game tied at 16.
14. Eddie Jackson. Lather, rinse, repeat. What a read in the flat! Pick-six! Bears up 23-16! And Ford Field is dead silent!
Forget Mahomes. Eddie Jackson for MVP.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
15. KYLE FULLER!!!!! An interception in the end zone!!!! What an unbelievable play!!!
This defense is insane. It's been 85 hours and you're on the road! Just big time.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) November 22, 2018
16. Tarik Cohen for the first down to seal the win!! Big props to James Daniels for a nice block and essentially carrying Cohen past the markers for the first. That’s a true team-effort play right there to end it. And what an unbelievably huge win for the Bears today. After 85 hours, on the road, on Thanksgiving, against a divisional opponent, with their backup quarterback! Your Bears are 8-3!!!
17. Bears get a mini-bye now, but head back on the road next Sunday to take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. By all accounts, Mitch Trubisky should be back for that game, after an admirable relief performance today by Chase Daniel. The Giants are not good, but they’ve started to figure some things out the last couple of weeks and have played some tough football. The Bears should be rested from this tough stretch by then, and they are a much better team than the Giants.
Early prediction: Bears 27, Giants 14.
