NFL Week 14 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 28, Detroit Lions 13

The Chicago Bears went winless in the NFC North in 2022 and over the first half of 2023, but their 28-13 victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 14 marks their second consecutive victory over a divisional rival.

Chicago let a 12-point fourth-quarter lead slip away against Detroit in Week 12, but the defense slammed the door shut in this one, sacking quarterback Jared Goff four times and making several key fourth-down stops to seal the win.

Offensive spotlight: Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs totaled 66 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, including a 36-yard scamper that got Detroit down in the red zone in the first half. He added three receptions for 16 yards, including a key third-down conversion where he broke multiple tackles.

Gibbs also dropped a crucial pass on a screen to the right, where he appeared to have a lot of running room ahead of him, but he was the only player to provide much of a spark on offense for Detroit besides the occasional timely catch from tight end Sam LaPorta. 

Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore continues to thrive with Justin Fields at quarterback, finishing off Chicago’s scripted drive with a 16-yard end-around rush where he faked a lateral to Justin Fields before finding the end zone.

Later, Detroit lined up offsides and gave Chicago a free play, with cornerback Jerry Jacobs lined up in single coverage on Moore with no help over the top. Moore took advantage and glided to the end zone for another score. 

Defensive spotlight: Lions edge defender Aidan Hutchinson had one key sequence where he dropped Justin Fields for a nine-yard sack on second down and then disrupted a pass on third-and-18 to force a punt deep in Chicago territory. John Cominsky also got home for a sack, and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin got home on a well-designed blitz. 

Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson added another interception to his season tally and was generally sticky in coverage all afternoon, with no Lions receiver hitting the 50-yard mark.

Slot cornerback Kyler Gordon also held Amon-Ra St. Brown in check all game. The Bears defense tallied two interceptions and four sacks, with edge defender Montez Sweat getting home for a sack and generating pressure throughout the game. 

Rookie spotlight: Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta hauled in two receptions for 23 yards and also had a 4-yard carry.

Bears rookie interior defender Gervon Dexter Sr. recorded half a sack, and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had a forced incompletion, though he appeared to get burned by Josh Reynolds for a touchdown and allowed a few receptions on first review.

Box Score

Passing

Rushing

Receiving