Lions back in win column, hand Bears ninth straight loss

Jared Goff passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns and Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 109 yards and a score to boost the visiting Detroit Lions to a 34-17 victory against the skidding Chicago Bears on Sunday. Detroit (13-2) stayed atop the NFC standings and established a franchise record for victories while outgaining Chicago 475-382. The Bears (4-11) lost their ninth in a row despite Caleb Williams' 334 passing yards and two touchdowns. Williams also was the team's leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries. Lions receiver Jameson Williams had five catches for 143 yards and a score while Keenan Allen led Chicago with nine catches for 141 yards and a TD. Detroit scored the first 20 points of the game, including 10 that capitalized off Chicago turnovers. Ahead 3-0 on Jake Bates' 30-yard field goal on Detroit's first possession of the game, the Lions took advantage of a short field after Williams fumbled. Gibbs capped a seven-play, 36-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter. Rome Odunze fumbled on the next possession after a catch and run that took the ball into Lions territory. Detroit responded with Bates' 34-yard field goal, and after forcing a Bears punt drove 93 yards in two plays and 43 seconds to make it 20-0. Goff connected with Jameson Williams for an 82-yard scoring pass, lofting the ball over the Chicago secondary as the receiver raced the final 35 yards to the end zone. Chicago began to find its offensive rhythm after that, sandwiching touchdown passes to Cole Kmet and Allen around an 8-yard connection between Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Bates narrowly missed a 65-yard field goal attempt as time expired on the second quarter, sending the Lions into halftime with a 27-14 lead. Detroit extended the advantage back to 20 points with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Sam LaPorta early in the third quarter. The Bears drew within the final margin on a 30-yard Cairo Santos field goal with 6:03 left in the third. Caleb Williams surpassed 3,000 yards passing during the game, becoming the first Bears rookie quarterback to accomplish the feat. Bears left tackle Braxton Jones was carted off the field after injuring his left ankle in the second quarter. Jones gave a thumbs-up to the crowd after trainers helped stabilize his ankle and help him onto the cart. Jones was in pass protection when Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike appeared to fall on Jones' right leg. --Field Level Media