The Detroit Lions hadn’t won a Thanksgiving game since 2016. Lions fans had to unexpectedly sweat out breaking that streak.
They can thank a game-management fiasco by the Chicago Bears.
The Bears, who had a timeout left, let the clock run down to the final seconds after a sack, trailing by three points. It ran down too far, and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw incomplete on the final play.
The Lions ended up getting the 23-20 win. A questionable defensive pass interference penalty downfield on a fourth-and-14 desperation pass gave the Bears a first down well within field-goal range. But the drive moved back and then the Bears mismanaged the clock as poorly as you’ll see in the NFL.
It’s hard to be sharp every single half of an NFL season, and for most of this season the Lions have been very good. The Lions’ second half wasn’t impressive, but at least they didn’t take another Thanksgiving loss. After how they dominated the first half, it would have been a severe letdown. As is, another win and an 11-1 record is just fine as they chase the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
For Chicago, it will be a long week for head coach Matt Eberflus, who is on the hottest seat possible after the way the Bears screwed up the end of the game.
The Bears have been playing better the past couple weeks. They were a blocked field goal from beating the Green Bay Packers and took the Minnesota Vikings to overtime. The Bears were 4-7 coming in but haven’t been inept lately.
The Lions made the Bears look like a college team in the first half.
In the first quarter, the Lions outgained the Bears 214-11 and had 15 first downs (a ridiculous amount in a quarter of football) to zero for the Bears. Detroit scored on the first play of the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to tight end Sam LaPorta to take a 10-0 lead.
The Lions' offense has been fantastic all season, and the defense has made major strides to match it. The Bears’ first three possessions all ended in a three-and-out. They didn’t get a first down until 51 seconds remained in the first half. The Bears have had some awful games on offense this season, but Thursday’s first half seemed to be more about the Lions' defense dominating them. The Bears had 53 yards in the first half. The Lions had 279. It seemed like Detroit would blow them out.
But give the Bears credit. The game was a lot different in the second half.
Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions built a big lead vs. the Bears but had to hang on as Chicago was a mess on its final play with a chance to tie or take the lead. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Bears stay in the game
The Lions were clearly superior in the first half but some red-zone issues and a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble deep in Bears territory kept the score to a manageable 16-0 for Chicago at halftime. Right after the half, Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen for a touchdown and the Bears cut their deficit to 16-7. The Lions came right back. Aided by a questionable horse-collar penalty call on a third-down stop, the Lions went downfield and LaPorta got his second touchdown.
But the Bears kept hanging around. Williams calmed down and made plays. The Lions didn’t move up and down the field as easily, and a missed field goal in the fourth quarter by Detroit kept the door open for a comeback. Williams had a nice pass to DJ Moore for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:36 left, and despite a wretched first half the Bears were within three points.
The Bears forced a punt but Detroit had good coverage and downed it at the 1-yard line. Williams kept the Bears’ hopes alive with a 25-yard pass to Moore on third down. Chicago moved it to midfield at the two-minute warning. A sack set the Bears’ drive back, and they faced a fourth-and-4 just outside of field-goal range at Detroit’s 44-yard line. There was an offensive pass interference call that negated a Moore catch for a first down, and then Williams threw it deep on fourth-and-14. Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor was hand-fighting with Moore and officials called the penalty. That kept the Bears alive.
The drive stalled after that, with a sack and a penalty pushing Chicago back. Williams was sacked with 30 seconds left and it took too long to get the play in and run it. Williams looked like a rookie trying to get the team organized. The snap came with about six seconds left and he held it too long before throwing it downfield.
It was a win for the Lions. It felt more like the Bears blowing it at the end.
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Lions hold on for 23-20 win as Bears mishandle final seconds
The Detroit Lions picked up an imperfect win, taking a 23-20 victory. The Bears' second half surge ended with an easy chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, but instead found a way to mess it up.
Chicago completely mishandled the final seconds. Despite having a full timeout left, the Bears did not take it, and the clock slipped away as Williams' final pass fell incomplete.
With the win, the Lions move to 11-1, having won 10 straight.
As a result, they get to chow down on a celebratory bird with a lot to be thankful for. Jared Goff, who went 21-of-34 and threw for two touchdowns, won a special Thanksgiving MVP award in honor of John Madden.
The Bears had a first down locked up, but were sent back with an illegal use of hands call. Williams was sacked on the next play.
Dueling pass interference flags create chaos in the final minute
On fourth down, Bears tight end Cole Kmet was called for offensive pass interference, forcing Chicago to replay fourth down with a ten-yard penalty added. But the next play saw the Lions called for pass interference, and gave Chicago a sudden first down at Detroit's 25.
Bears allow a third sack on Williams, but are able to convert the first down
Caleb Williams was sacked again on this drive, with his third sack of the day coming from Al-Quadin Muhammad. But Williams was able to get two big plays in a row, with a 14-yard pass to DJ Moore and a 12-yard rush from D'Andre Swift getting the Bears over the line for a first down.
Chicago now has two minutes and 50 yards to go in order to get a game-tying (or -winning) score.
Massive first down keeps the game alive for Chicago
Caleb and Moore pick up a massive first down for the Bears
Jake Bates has made three field goals today, but his fourth goes wide right. It's still 23-13, with Detroit's lead a little slimmer than they'd like.
Jameson Williams flagged for taunting
Lions receiver Jameson Williams got a little too chirpy after a short gain, taunting defensive back Tyrique Stevenson and tossing the ball into Stevenson's face. The unsportsmanlike conduct flag moved things back to second-and-22 for Detroit.
DJ Reader gets his second sack of the game on Caleb Williams, resulting in a loss of 11 yards. Williams' next pass is incomplete (and nearly intercepted), and the Bears will have to punt...again.
Keenan Allen is down after that last play, but it's unclear if there's a serious injury or not. Allen has both of Chicago's touchdowns today, and would be a huge loss for the Bears offense if he's ruled out.
Caleb Williams finds Keenan Allen for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion is no good
Chicago is determined to make this a game worth watching, with Caleb Williams connecting with Keenan Allen for the second touchdown of the day.
Caleb Williams' touchdown pass is all the more impressive given that it came right after an awkward tackle from Jack Campbell. Williams' legs were bent back at an awkward angle on his way down, but he seems to be doing just fine — and has gotten Chicago within nine points.
With the second half underway, Caleb Williams gets off a big throw to pull Chicago out of a tough spot
It looked like things were off to a tough start for the Bears, with Caleb Williams getting sacked by Lions lineman DJ Reader and his next pass falling incomplete. But at third-and-15, Williams connected with Keenan Allen for an 18 yard gain, getting the first down and proving that the Bears have some life.
With seconds left in the half, Chicago tried its best to get the ball down the field
It was all hands on deck for the Bears (and the Lions' defense), but Caleb Williams' last-second pass was incomplete. Chicago will get the ball first to start the second half.
Lions-Bears heads into halftime with Detroit holding a 16-0 lead.
Although Chicago got the turnover, the Bears were unable to get the ball down the field before the half expired. Detroit leads, 16-0, as the teams head into the locker room.
It's been all Detroit in this first half, with the Lions holding the ball for 23 of the 30 minutes and converting on all but one of their drives.
Right after forcing the fumble, the Bears finally get their first first down of the game, with Caleb Williams throwing to Cole Kmet for a 14 yard gain.
The Bears pick up their first 1st down of the game with 52 seconds remaining in the first half. pic.twitter.com/3LIaZnvMSg
Chicago goes for it on fourth-and-three, but Caleb Williams' pass to D'Andre Swift is incomplete and the Bears will turn over on downs at Chicago's 37 yard line. Williams wants the the pass interference flag, but the refs let the play stand. Poor Chicago can't get any wins today.
And another Detroit field goal
The Lions have taken a commanding 16-0 lead, but they've now had to settle for three field goals where they could have gotten touchdowns. The Bears defense is doing its job well, and Detroit might be a little annoyed that it can't quite get into the end zone.
Jahmyr Gibbs picks up 28 yards off an electric run
Chicago's struggles continue, as Caleb Williams' pocket collapses and his awkward pass towards Rome Odunze hits the ground. So far, the Bears have nine plays off of three drives.
Detroit settles for another field goal
At 3rd & goal, Goff is forced to slide under pressure with Bears lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. getting the sack.
Jake Bates kicks another field goal and the Lions are up 13-0.
Lions pick up 45 yards off a pass/penalty combo
Jared Goff finds Tim Patrick for a 30 yard gain, and then takes the contact for a roughing the passer penalty. Detroit then gets an additional 15 yards tacked on the end of the play as a result.
Offensive pass interference puts Chicago back to third and 14
It's been a tough game so far for the Bears, and a penalty doesn't help. Chicago TE Cole Kmet gets flagged for offensive pass interference, putting the Bears at 3rd & 14.
On that next down, Caleb Williams sprints around some crazy pressure, but is forced to throw the ball away, and Chicago will punt.
Sam LaPorta holds on for the touchdown to open the second quarter
Detroit TE Sam LaPorta makes the tricky catch in the first seconds of the second quarter, and the Lions are up 10-0 over the Bears.
Matt Eberflus thinks that the call on Jameson Williams' incomplete pass is narrow enough to challenge, but instead wastes his challenge flag in the first quarter. Lions keep the ball.
Chaos as Jameson Williams lets the ball get loose
Lions receiver Jameson Williams lost control of the ball as he was coming down with the catch. Bears think it's a fumble, but refs rule it an incomplete pass because he never quite had control.
Bears receiver DJ Moore hit the ground hard after a tough hit from the Lions, with the pass intended for him sailing out of bounds. Hopefully Moore is ok.
Lions kickoff goes through the uprights
Detroit kicker Jake Bates kicks off, getting back to doink off the posts and through the uprights, and Bears will start their first drive with a touchback. Three more points for the Lions?
A Lions play led to offensive tackle Penei Sewell getting the ball, poised for a potential touchdown throw. Unfortunately, Sewell was under pressure before he could get the throw off, and lost a few yards. What could have been.
It's been more than 25 years since John Madden infamously tried a turducken — a duck, stuffed into a chicken, stuffed into a turkey — live on air in honor of Thanksgiving.
Madden died in 2021, but the tradition lives on: The three NFL Thanksgiving games will all use a special coin for the coin flip, featuring Madden's face on one side and a six-legged turducken on the other.
In honor of #MaddenThanksgiving, a special coin featuring John Madden and a six-legged turducken will be used for the coin toss before each Thanksgiving game. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HV3UBXaK4O
