Bears Fourth Drive (Continued)
- My brother and I often discuss that the inconsistency of Kellen Davis will likely force the Bears into drafting a tight end this off-season. It seems that Davis still has at least one step backward for every positive step. His physical ability is undeniable, but his production is maddening.
- Cutler was very fortunate not to be intercepted on a risky third-down dump off.
- Podlesh's decent punt was punished by a strange penalty on an unknown Bear.
Lions Fifth Drive
- Taking over at midfield, Detroit needed some yards. A zero yard run on first down obviously doesn't work.
- McClellin and Wootton are just too fast for the Detroit tackles. They rapidly compressed the pocket, enabling the double-teamed Stephen Paea to gobble up an unearned sack.
- The Lions have roughly an average amount of talent for an NFL team. Because of that, they need Matthew Stafford to be an elite quarterback to be an above-average team. I certainly wouldn't suggest that the Lions give up on Stafford who is still just 24 and is currently a slightly above-average signal caller. But misses like that pass to Titus Young cost his team points. He had space with another receiver having drawn Conte out of the middle of the field, but he missed him badly.
Bears Fifth Drive
- Great choice by the Bears going with the hard count on first down. Unfortunately, Lance Louis jumped, but it only cost the team a foot or so.
- I would have considered a quick kick on third-and-10 from inside the one.
- The Lions knew the Bears were going with a quick pass on third down. The Bears didn't disguise it. How Brandon Marshall has that much space I'll never know. Great throw, great run after the catch, great conversion.
- Forte hasn't had much space after the first drive. The Lions safeties and linebackers are doing a nice job pursuing the back.
- That horse collar call was a poor one. It doesn't address another strong run-and-catch from Marshall.
- It's clear that Devin Hester is not Alshon Jeffery. Cutler misses the big-bodied receiver.
- Strong vision from Forte turned a one or two yard run into an eight-yard gain.
- The Lions may have the worst secondary in the NFL. Alphonso Smith is going to be overmatched by many NFL receivers. Against Brandon Marshall, Smith has virtually no chance.
- Gabe Carimi appeared to get beat terribly, but it's acceptable to get beat by a rusher who leaves before the snap.
- Kyle Adams and Lance Louis did a nice job getting out in front of Forte to provide some space. But Matt Spaeth made that five-yard run, taking Kyle Vanden Bosch all the way across the formation and away from Forte. Tremendous block by Spaeth.
- Unfortunately the next play was run right into a blitz. That tends not to work.
- Jay had one chance to make a play on the third down blitz. The blitz pickup was strong, but the coverage was excellent. Cutler was lucky to avoid a fumble there.
- Unfortunately, it didn't matter. Adam Podlesh had a tough time getting the hold down, but Gould's pretty clean kick was nonetheless rejected at the line by Lawrence Jackson. There goes his perfect season. An unprosperous end to an otherwise great drive.
Lions Sixth Drive
- A nice throw by Stafford on first down sets up an easily convertible second-and-one. Stafford made a nice, safe throw to get things going.
- But the linebackers and left defensive line made a wall that enabled the truly fast McClellin to make a great play from the backside.
- Lance Briggs did his best Peanut Tillman breaking up a third-down pass to Nate Burleson by punching out the recently caught ball.
- Love Smith got away with one there. The officials absolutely should have charged him with a timeout or a challenge for delaying the snap of the Lions punt while checking to see if Burleson's drop was really a fumble.
- It's strange to see any non-Hester Bear return a punt. While I'm generally plenty happy with Bennett getting a handful of return chances, I'd rather not expose him to big hits in his first game back from a hand injury.
Bears Sixth Drive
- And there goes the season. Suh is so powerful that every play he makes looks brutally violent. I'm reminded of Suh's shouldn't-have-been-penalized hit on Cutler in Detroit in 2010 where Suh took Cutler down with his forearm. Suh is just a great talent, the kind of player who can ruin a season.
- Seeing Cutler return is immediately the best play of this game for the Bears. And the most surprising.
- What a punt from Podlesh. Perfectly angled, high, deep. Just a great kick. I do wonder if Suh's big play can inspire the Detroit offense to a few big plays here.
Lions Seventh Drive
- The Lions have now put the ball on the ground twice in two possessions, though both went out of bounds. It seems likely that one fumble will stay on the pitch at some point.
- Stafford made a great, aware, athletic play to make a nice run.
- Then Pettigrew loses it again. Sheesh. Twice in three plays for Peanut.
- Then a great play call gashed a cleared out middle of the Bears defense.
- Stafford wisely held onto the ball on a quick screen call, running quickly for a five-yard gain. It was another very smart play by the quarterback who has his offense in a dangerous rhythm for the Chicago defense.
- I have no idea why Urlacher wasn't called for unsportsmanlike conduct after holding Tony Scheffler down for a few seconds after the tight end's first down grab before the two minute warning. Had that been any other player, I imagine a flag would have been thrown.
- Stafford wisely dumped off to Leshoure on first down in the teeth of good pressure.
- I don't understand calling for a run on the next play. Stafford's short passes had been carving up the Bears defense. Stafford was in a groove. Even had Leshoure not fumbled, it was a poor call.
- But credit where credit is due. Briggs had no business recovering that fumble, but he fought for the ball while laying on the ground with Leshoure on top of him. I'd like to think that my earlier comment about the Lions leaving a fumble on the playing surface was particularly prescient, but the combination of poor ball security by Detroit and turnover-seeking defense by the Bears made that inevitable.
Bears Seventh Drive
- Strange to see Cutler come back for one play, then head to the locker room. Hopefully he isn't seriously injured.
- I absolutely hate the Bears running a lazy hurry-up. What's the purpose of running the second down play with 25 seconds left on the play clock if you're going to run a draw on second-and-11? That's horrendous clock management by Lovie that I hope doesn't hurt the team.
- Thankfully Matt Forte completely bailed out Smith.
FIRST HALF THOUGHTS
The Bears defense looks every bit as good as they have all year. The front four has gotten solid pressure on Stafford, only allowing him to sit in a secure pocket on two or three occasions thus far. Detroit gave away a scoring chance with the Leshoure fumble, as did the Bears by allowing penetration on Gould's second field goal attempt.
I don't understand why the Lions haven't been running a no huddle offense. Stafford runs it beautifully and he did so at the end of the first half. Then they made a terrible choice to run up the gut but got punished much more severely than they deserved. The Detroit defensive front has been strong, but their defensive backfield has been terrible. If Jay Cutler or even Jason Campbell can continue to attack the Detroit secondary, the Bears should be able to maintain their lead.
Here's the thing about playing the Lions: once the fourth quarter shows up, Detroit will absolutely run their two minute offense and move the ball effectively. Therefore, it is imperative to build a sizable lead so the Bears defensive backs can take some chances on intercepting passes. If it's a tight game, the fourth quarter still favors Detroit given their experience with comebacks, big-armed quarterback, and monster receiver.
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