DETROIT (AP) — Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Sam LaPorta, Jake Bates made three field goals in the first half and the Detroit Lions held off the Chicago Bears 23-20 on Thursday to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
The Lions snapped a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving.
The Bears had the ball in Lions territory late in the game with a chance to drive for a tying field goal or go-ahead goal, but they squandered the opportunity.
Caleb Williams threw an incomplete pass as time expired at the Detroit 41 after being sacked with about 30 seconds left, running out the clock even though Chicago still had a timeout.
The NFC-leading Lions (11-1) have their best 12-game record in team history and their 10-game winning streak ties a franchise record set by the 1934 team.
The Bears (4-8) have lost six straight games.
Detroit led 16-0 at halftime and 23-7 after three quarters, and quarterback Caleb Williams led a comeback that fell short for the second straight week. Williams helped the Bears rally from an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation against Minnesota before losing in overtime.
Detroit opened the game with four consecutive scoring drives and led 16–0 on Goff’s 3-yard touchdown pass to LaPorta in the second quarter and Bates’ field goals.
Chicago, meanwhile, failed to pick up a first down on its first four drives, gaining a total of 32 yards on those possessions.
Goff’s second touchdown pass to LaPorta, a 1-yard toss, gave Detroit a 23-7 lead late in the third quarter. The score was set by Jameson Williams’ 15-yard reverse, where he hurdled Kevin Byard to gain several additional yards.
Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, was 20 of 39 for 256 yards with two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen and one to DJ Moore.
Williams appeared to make his first rookie mistake of the game in the third quarter on a run, pulling up instead of going out of bounds and taking a low hit from linebacker Jack Campbell.
The former USC star shook it off and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen on the next snap. William connected with Allen for another score, throwing a 9-yarder to him.
Detroit had a chance to increase its cushion, but Bates missed a 45-yard kick after starting his NFL career 19 of 19 on field goals on a drive that was stymied by Jameson Williams’ 15-yard penalty for throwing from football to a Bears. player on the sideline.
Caleb Williams took advantage, throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Moore to get within three points with 5:36 remaining.
Injuries
Bears: RB Roschon Johnson left the game with a concussion. … Bears G Ryan Bates (concussion) and DB Elijah Hicks (ankle) were inactive.
Lions: DE Josh Paschal (knee), DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and DL Mekhi Wingo (knee) were hurt during the game, possibly more blows at a position hit hard by injuries, including Aidan Hutchinson’s broken leg. … Lions PR/WR Kalif Raymond (foot) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday and was replaced by Maurice Alexander, who came from the practice squad. … CB Carlton Davis (knee/thumb) and OT Taylor Decker (knee) were inactive.
Next
Bears: Play Dec. 8 at San Francisco.
Lions: Host Green Bay next Thursday night.
