Instant observations: Lions stun Bears, improve to 8-2 for first time since 1962

DETROIT — Jared Goff threw three interceptions for the first time since those very dark final days with the Los Angeles Rams. He threw two more balls into the hands of Chicago defenders that were dropped.

This was his worst game since in two years. It could have been so much worse.

But he didn’t flinch, and delivered when it mattered most.

With the Lions facing a 12-point deficit in the final 4 minutes, Goff heaved a 32-yard touchdown bomb to Jameson Williams that drew Detroit within one score, then was near-perfect on an 11-play drive that led the Lions to Chicago’s 1-yard line with 26 seconds left.

To get that final yard, the Lions sent David Montgomery onto the field to hammer the final nail into his old team’s coffin. And that’s exactly what he did, barrelling into the end zone for a touchdown that sent Detroit to a wild 31-26 win on Sunday against the Bears.

The Lions improve to 8-2 for the first time since 1962, and just the fourth time in franchise history. They are now a half-game behind Philadelphia (8-1) for the top spot in the NFC, pending whatever the Eagles do against Kansas City (7-2) in a Super Bowl rematch on Monday Night Football.

They now lead the NFC North by two games over the Minnesota Vikings (6-4), who face the Broncos in Denver tonight on Sunday Night Football. Detroit has won seven straight games over the division overall, a franchise record, and will look to make it eight straight when it hosts the Green Bay Packers in four days on Thanksgiving.

But man, it was not easy.

The Bears are one of the worst teams in the league, but the Lions played one of their worst games of the season against them. Goff opened the game with back-to-back interceptions, added another as the Lions fell behind by double digits in the third quarter, and could have two more that were dropped.

Will Harris was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, leading to a touchdown. Brian Branch was flagged twice on third-down stops, one of which came on third-and-15 and led to a field goal. Kerby Joseph blew a tackle on third-and-12, leading to another field goal.

The Lions still managed to take a 14-10 halftime lead on a touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown just 11 seconds before intermission, but gave away the momentum immediately coming out of the break. They went three-and-out on offense, allowed a field goal on defense, then Craig Reynolds fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Justin Fields turned that into a 39-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore getting behind Jerry Jacobs, and the Lions trailed again.

The game continued to spiral out of control as Goff threw a third pick on a tipped pass, and suddenly a four-point lead turned into a 12-point deficit, and fans that have serenaded this team from coast to coast were booing the quarterback and playcalls.

Then the quarterback responded, throwing a 32-yard bomb to Jameson Williams that drew Detroit within 26-21 with 3:06 left. Then the defense joined in, forcing a three-and-out by stuffing two runs and defending a bomb down the field.

Goff retook the field in a five-point game, and was sublime. He couldn’t connected with Williams on another deep shot, then completed five of his next six passes to lead Detroit all the way to the 1-yard line. Montgomery chipped in four touches for 44 yards along the way, and then reported back into the game once Detroit was at the goal line.

And the former Bears back — who left Chicago because he was sick with the losing — hammered in the go-ahead score in a frenetic Ford Field.

Yes, players are coming to Detroit now when they’re sick of losing.

And these days, they’re winning more often than ever since 1962.

Let’s get to some more observations:

— What happened to you, Jared Goff? He’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the league this season, and one of the best quarterbacks at protecting the football, making the fourth-fewest turnover-worthy plays heading into the weekend. On Sunday, he threw back-to-back picks to open the game, added another in the third quarter and had a fourth dropped that could have gone for six points the other way. This is the first time Goff has thrown multiple picks since Oct. 23 of last year, and the first time he’s thrown three picks since Sept. 29, 2019 while he was still with the Rams. He’s just been so good at tightening up after picks, and had a nice little run of touchdown drives going after picks this season. But the giveaways piled up against Chicago, and were the difference as the Bears pulled ahead 20-14 in the third quarter.

Of course, tip your cap to Goff’s steeliness under pressure in the final minutes. He had played his worst game in years, and still delivered back-to-back touchdown drives in the final minutes to come all the way back for the win. That’s good stuff from one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and make no mistake, he’s the face and voice of that locker room. He’s been through a lot, and went through a lot on Sunday, and persevered through it all.

— After Montgomery plowed into the end zone for a 29-26 lead in the final seconds, Aidan Hutchinson sealed the dramatic win by taking down Justin Fields for a sack-strip. The ball bounded through the back of the end zone for good measure, adding two points on the safety.

— Craig Reynolds also lost a fumble in the third quarter, giving Chicago a second straight possession coming out of the break. The Bears had already scored a field goal to draw within 14-13, and then added a 39-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore to extend it to 20-14.

Adding injury to insult, Reynolds suffered an injury on the play and did not return. He’s the No. 3 running back on the team, and a trusted agent for Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson. The Lions are in good shape with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs at running back, but losing Reynolds for any length of time is a blow to the depth at that position, and as the injuries to Montgomery and Gibbs have shown, depth is required at that position. Something to watch, as the Packers loom in just four days on Thanksgiving.

— One guy who didn’t struggle was Brian Branch, who might have played his best game since suffering the ankle injury that sidelined him a couple weeks in the first half of the season. Branch dropped running backs D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert for 6-yard losses apiece, plus Fields for a 2-yard loss. Branch now has three games with three tackles for loss, something no rookie defensive back had done even twice since 1999.

Those third-down penalties were back-breakers though, extending drives that had been stopped, both of which led to points. Branch is one of the best young cornerbacks in the league, but those mistakes have to be cleaned up.

— Shoutout to Jameson Williams, who might have put together his best game as a pass-catcher. That’s not saying much of course, but both of his catches were monsters. With Detroit still trailing in the first half, Williams caught a 12-yard pass over the middle on third down. Goff turned that into a touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown with just 11 seconds left before the break, and what proved to be Detroit’s only lead. But with the Lions trailing 26-14 in the fourth quarter, Williams gave Detroit another shot by getting behind the defense for a 32-yard touchdown. Suddenly, the Lions found themselves in a one-score game despite the turnovers.

— Running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 36 yards and one touchdown, extending his streak of games with a touchdown run to four. That ties for the longest streak by a Lions rookie ever, matching Kevin Jones (2004) and Barry Sanders (1989). Against his old team, Montgomery finished with 76 yards and the winning score.

— Rookie offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal started for the injured Jonah Jackson at left guard. His most noteworthy play was a first-down holding penalty that backed Detroit behind the sticks, and led to Goff’s second interception of the day.

— The Lions’ breakout season has made them a destination for A-list celebrities this season, including legendary rapper Eminem, NBA star Devin Booker and former Fab Fiver Jalen Rose. They added to the roster on Sunday by welcoming NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former Tigers star Willie Horton, Lions all-time sack leader Robert Porcher, and actor Keegan-Michael Key.