Recap: Bears 37, Lions 13
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 13, 2011
Devin Hester extended his NFL record with a 12th punt return for a touchdown – an 82-yarder – and the Chicago Bears scored 24 points off six turnovers en route to a fourth straight victory, 37-13 over the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Major Wright and Charles Tillman each returned interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive third-quarter series for the Bears (6-3), who have lost since being thoroughly outplayed in a 24-13 defeat at Detroit on Monday Night Football last month.
The Lions (6-3), meanwhile, looked nothing like the team that had won a franchise-record six straight road games, including a 45-10 rout of Denver prior to its bye week.
They entered with the best turnover differential in the NFL (plus-13), but their six turnovers were one more than their season total.
Detroit fumbled on its first two possessions and Chicago quickly took a 10-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown from Matt Forte and a 43-yard field goal from Robbie Gould.
Aside from the turnovers, another costly mistake was punting to Hester.
Hester was questionable after suffering a sprained ankle in last week’s win over Philadelphia, but he showed no ill effects while extending his NFL record early in the second quarter (he later left with an illness).
With the Bears holding a 13-0 lead, Hester retreated and failed to make an over-the-shoulder catch of Robert Malone’s booming punt, but he quickly gathered it and raced up the left sideline for a 20-0 lead.
With Chicago ahead 20-6 at halftime, Wright extended the lead when he intercepted Matthew Stafford on the Lions’ first possession of the second half and raced 24 yards for a score. Four plays later, Tillman jumped a pass and returned it 44 yards for a 34-6 lead.
There were several hard hits in a game between the bitter rivals. Lions rookie defensive Nick Fairley drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for driving Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler to the ground in the end zone.
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs was flagged for a brutal forearm shiver to the head of Calvin Johnson.
In addition, Bears cornerback D.J. Moore was ejected after a brawl with Stafford, who pulled him down by his helmet during an interception return.
Nov 13, 2011
Devin Hester extended his NFL record with a 12th punt return for a touchdown – an 82-yarder – and the Chicago Bears scored 24 points off six turnovers en route to a fourth straight victory, 37-13 over the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Major Wright and Charles Tillman each returned interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive third-quarter series for the Bears (6-3), who have lost since being thoroughly outplayed in a 24-13 defeat at Detroit on Monday Night Football last month.
The Lions (6-3), meanwhile, looked nothing like the team that had won a franchise-record six straight road games, including a 45-10 rout of Denver prior to its bye week.
They entered with the best turnover differential in the NFL (plus-13), but their six turnovers were one more than their season total.
Detroit fumbled on its first two possessions and Chicago quickly took a 10-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown from Matt Forte and a 43-yard field goal from Robbie Gould.
Aside from the turnovers, another costly mistake was punting to Hester.
Hester was questionable after suffering a sprained ankle in last week’s win over Philadelphia, but he showed no ill effects while extending his NFL record early in the second quarter (he later left with an illness).
With the Bears holding a 13-0 lead, Hester retreated and failed to make an over-the-shoulder catch of Robert Malone’s booming punt, but he quickly gathered it and raced up the left sideline for a 20-0 lead.
With Chicago ahead 20-6 at halftime, Wright extended the lead when he intercepted Matthew Stafford on the Lions’ first possession of the second half and raced 24 yards for a score. Four plays later, Tillman jumped a pass and returned it 44 yards for a 34-6 lead.
There were several hard hits in a game between the bitter rivals. Lions rookie defensive Nick Fairley drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for driving Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler to the ground in the end zone.
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs was flagged for a brutal forearm shiver to the head of Calvin Johnson.
In addition, Bears cornerback D.J. Moore was ejected after a brawl with Stafford, who pulled him down by his helmet during an interception return.
