Recap: Lions lose again on last-second field goal, fall to Bears 16-14

Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News

Well, hopefully your Thanksgiving Day mood didn't hinge on a winning effort from the Lions.

Detroit again lost on a last-second field goal on Thursday, taking a 14-13 lead into Chicago's final drive before a 28-yard field goal from Bears kicker Cairo Santos ended the game with a 16-14 win for the road team.

Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle and Jared Goff are all smiles as they warm-up before the game between Detroit and the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on November 25, 2021.

Bears win on last-second FG

Chicago takes over at its own 21, trailing 14-13 with 8:30 to go in the game.

The Bears pick up a first down thanks to a 7-yard pass to Cole Kmet, but quickly find themselves facing a third-and-5 just a few plays later. Andy Dalton rolls out and hits Damiere Byrd for a gain of 13. It's first-and-10 at the 50.

David Montgomery rushes for 12. Andy Dalton throws to Cole Kmet for a gain of 12, before rushing to the 18 for a gain of 9. A 1-yard run moves the chains and brings up first-and-10 at the Detroit 17. 

Montgomery rushes for no gain.

Two-minute warning.

Montgomery is stuffed again for no gain.

Timeout #1 Detroit (1:54 4th)

There's some confusion on Detroit's side for the third-down play, which causes them to take another timeout. Taking back-to-back timeouts results in a 5-yard penalty. It's third-and-4.

Timeout #2 Detroit (1:54 4th)

The Bears convert on third down, and now have it first-and-goal at the 4.

Timeout #1 Chicago (1:02 4th)

Chicago takes a pair of knees and gets ready to take the last-second field goal with 3 seconds left.

Timeout #2 Chicago (0:03 4th)

The kick is up, and it's good. Bears win.

FINAL: Bears 16, Lions 14

Lions again have drive ended by penalties 

The Lions take over at their own 10, leading 14-13 with 12:08 left in the game.

Josh Reynolds gets open for a 15-yard gain on first down to kickstart the Lions' drive, then Jamaal Williams gashes Chicago up the middle for a pickup of 19 to the Detroit 44, where it'll be first-and-10.

After a first-down run of 3 yards, Detroit is backed up by a false start and two holding penalties. It's second-and-32. Goff takes a shot down the sideline that falls incomplete, then dumps it off to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a gain of 7.

Jakeem Grant loses a yard on the return and goes down at the 22.

Injury alert: Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin was hurt on the play for the second time this game.

Lions 14, Bears 13 (8:30 4th)

Sack helps Lions stop Bears at midfield

Chicago takes over at its own 19 with 1:40 left in the third quarter, trailing 14-13.

After stuffing David Montgomery for no gain, the Lions' defense lets Darnell Mooney get open for a 16-yard completion to the 35 of Chicago.

Andy Dalton rushes for 3 yards to bring the third quarter to a close.

END 3RD: Lions 14, Bears 13

After a second-down incompletion, Dalton flips to David Montgomery for a gain of 12 that gives Chicago a first down at the 50.

Levin Onwuzurike sacks Dalton for a 7-yard loss on second down to bring up third-and-14. Dalton is flushed from the pocket and forced to scramble before going down for a gain of 5. That's a huge stop.

Pat O'Donnell's punt is downed at the 10.

Lions 14, Bears 13 (12:08 4th)

Lions take 14-13 lead on Hockenson TD

Detroit takes over at its own 21 to start its next drive. The Lions trail, 13-7.

Jared Goff puts one on a line to Kalif Raymond on first down for a gain of 17, which is aided by a late hit from the Bears that gives the Lions another 15 yards for free. It's first-and-10 at the 47 of Chicago.

Godwin Igwebuike rushes for 11 yards after T.J. Hockenson hauls in an 8-yard reception, making it first-and-10 at the 28.

It's third-and-10 after a first-down incompletion and second-down pass that's caught for no gain. Amon-Ra St. Brown hauls in a third-down throw and darts to the 17-yard-line for an 11-yard gain that keeps the drive alive. Detroit is in business. 

Goff is just showing off now: He hits Hockenson in the end zone on the very next play for a 17-yard touchdown pass that'll give the Lions a lead with the extra point.

Lions 14, Bears 13 (1:46 3rd)

Lions, Bears trade 3-and-outs in 3Q

Detroit takes over at its own 43 to start the drive, trailing 13-7.

After a 6-yard run by Jamaal Williams, a second-down pass loses a yard.

Jack Fox drops a perfect punt inside the 5, but KhaDarel Hodge can't locate it and it bounces into the end zone for a touchback.

Bears 13, Lions 7 (7:06 3rd)

The Bears take over at the 20. Detroit stops David Montgomery short of the sticks on second down, and does it again for no gain on third down to end the drive quickly.

Kalif Raymond fields the punt with a fair catch at Detroit's 21.

Bears 13, Lions 7 (5:07 3rd)

Lions go 3-and-out, Bears miss FG to start second half

Detroit takes over at its own 21 to start the half.

Looks like it's gonna be the Jamaal Williams show with no D'Andre Swift to start the half. He rushes for 4, then 2, to bring up third-and-4.

Jared Goff's third-down pass is caught for no gain.

Jack Fox's punt is returned 14 yards by Jakeem Grant to the Chicago 43.

Bears 13, Lions 7 (12:46 3rd)

Injury update: Lions RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder), CB Bobby Price (shoulder) and Bears LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) have all been downgraded to OUT for the remainder of today's game.

The Bears get backed up by a holding call after an 8-yard run on first down, but Andy Dalton completes a 19-yard pass to Damiere Byrd.

A 4-yard run and run for no gain brings up third-and-6 at the 25. A holding penalty erases a long run from Dalton that would have moved the chains. It's now third-and-16.

Dalton's third-down pass misses the mark.

Cairo Santos's 53-yard field goal attempt is short. We've still got a one-score game.

Bears 13, Lions 7 (8:38 3rd)

Bears take 13-7 lead heading into half

Detroit takes over at its own 26, trailing 10-7 in the second quarter.

Jared Goff's first-down pass goes to Jamaal Williams for 9, and the second-down carry goes for 8 to give Detroit first-and-10 at its own 43.

It's third-and-14 after a second-down sack. Chicago is now challenging that Goff fumbled during the sack, and it will probably be overturned and ruled Chicago ball.

And it is. Chicago ball, first-and-10 at the 39 of Detroit.

Bears 10, Lions 7 (2:23 2nd)

Andy Dalton finds Cole Kmet for a 16-yard reception to the 23 of Detroit.

Two-minute warning.

Amani Oruwariye intercepts Dalton in the end zone to give Detroit the ball.

Bears 10, Lions 7 (1:35 2nd)

The Lions take over at their own 20 with 1:47 left in the game.

The Lions take a holding penalty, run for 2 yards, commit another holding penalty. The second penalty is declined, bringing up third-and-16. 

Jared Goff throws a deep ball to no-man's land.

Jakeem Grant returns the punt to Chicago's 46.

Bears 10, Lions 7 (1:09 2nd)

Chicago moves the ball downfield with passes of 8 and 9 yards, bringing up first-and-10 at the 37 of Detroit.

Andy Dalton's throw to Cole Kmet on the next play goes for 2 yards.

Timeout #2 Chicago (0:33 2nd)

Cairos Santos makes a field goal as time expires in the half to make it 13-7, Bears.

END 2ND: Bears 13, Lions 7 

Bears score in two plays to take lead

The Bears take over at their own 31, and on the very first play, Andy Dalton throws a bomb to Darnell Mooney that goes for 52 yards. Dalton goes to Jimmy Graham on the next play, and that'll go for a Bears touchdown.

Bears 10, Lions 7 (4:29 2nd)

Lions hurt by penalties, forced to punt

Detroit takes over at the 33 after a terrific return by Godwin Igwebuike.

A 9-yard pass to Jamaal Williams and 4-yard run by D'Andre Swift moves the chains.

Then Swift rushes for 4, and Goff hits T.J. Hockenson with a dart to make it first-and-10 at the Chicago 44, with a gain of 10.

Then it's Jamaal Williams moving the sticks, as he runs for 7 yards on third-and-2 to give Detroit a new set of downs at the 30.

A false start and holding penalty will make it first-and-25 at the 45. Woof.

Injury alert: Lions RB D'Andre Swift was hurt on the play, but jogs off under his own power.

After the holding penalty, Detroit takes another false start. It's first-and-30.

A 4-yard completion and then another that loses 6 yards makes it third-and-32. They run it on third down.

Jakeem Grant returns the punt to its 31.

Lions 7, Bears 3 (5:21 2nd)

Bears chip into Lions lead with FG

Chicago takes over at its own 16, trailing 7-0 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.

Two quick runs by David Montgomery make it third-and-2.

Injury alert: Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin was hurt on the play.

Andy Dalton hits Jakeem Grant for 12, then gets the ball to Darnell Mooney for a gain of 33 to the Detroit 31.

A 2-yard pass to Cole Kmet ends the first quarter.

END 1ST: Lions 7, Bears 0 

Dalton hits Jimmy Graham for a 17-yard gain to the 12, where it'll be first-and-10.

After a 2-yard run by David Montgomery, Dalton misses the target on first down and is almost intercepted by Amani Oruwariye on third down, but the pass falls incomplete.

Cairo Santos hits the 28-yard field goal.

Lions 7, Bears 3 (13:24 2nd)

Lions punt after getting pinned deep

Chicago takes over at its own 17, trailing 7-0.

Darnell Mooney moves the chains with an 11-yard reception on second down, and two plays later, Andy Dalton hits Jakeem Grant for a 13-yard gain to bring up first-and-10 at the 41.

Andy Dalton throws the ball away and the Bears' second-down run goes for no gain, bringing up third-and-10. Cole Kmet goes down short of the sticks, and Chicago will punt on fourth-and-2.

Pat O'Donnell's punt is downed at the 4.

Lions 7, Bears 0 (5:17 1st)

Penei Sewell is flagged for a false start, and that'll make it first-and-12 at the 2.

Jamaal Williams carries it twice and gains nothing. It's third-and-12: The third-down run gains 2 yards.

The punt hits Bobby Price's helmet and rolls to the 26, where Price downs it. But holding on the Bears backs them up even further, to the 16.

Lions 7, Bears 0 (3:01 1st)

Lions take 7-0 lead on Goff TD throw

The Lions have won the coin toss and elect to defer. They'll start on defense.

The Bears take over at the 20. A quick pass and 7-yard run by David Montgomery gives Chicago a new set of downs at the 30.

Montgomery rushes for 2 before Andy Dalton's second-down pass is deflected by Alex Anzalone, bringing up third-and-8: Will Harris breaks up Dalton's third-down throw near the sideline.

Kalif Raymond returns the punt to Detroit's 31.

Lions 0, Bears 0 (12:42 1st)

After the punt, it's first-and-10 for Detroit at the 31. Jared Goff is at quarterback.

It's quickly first-and-5 after a neutral zone infraction. A first-down pass goes for no gain, and D'Andre Swift fumbles the second-down reception, but the Chicago defender who picked it up was out of bounds. It'll be third-and-1, where Goff goes back to Swift for a gain of 6 that moves the chains.

Goff's next throw is on a line to Josh Reynolds for a pickup of 16 yards to the Chicago 39. First-and-10.

Jamaal Williams gains 4, Swift loses 4, and it's third-and-10. Goff places a perfect throw over the shoulder of Reynolds on third-and-10, and that goes for a 39-yard Detroit Lions touchdown. 

Lions 7, Bears 0 (9:26 1st)

Pregame

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears won't have a lot on the line Thursday — the teams have a combined three victories in 20 tries this season — but for the home team, a victory would end some ugly skids.

The Lions (0-9-1), of course, are seeking their first victory of the season, as the NFL's lone winless team. They're also seeking their first Turkey Day win since 2016, having lost four in a row.

A win also would earn the Lions a season split with the Bears, who won the first meeting, 24-14, on Oct. 3 in Chicago.

Bears at Lions

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Ford Field, Detroit

TV/radio: FOX/97.1 FM

Records: Lions 0-9-1, Bears 3-7

Line: Bears by 3½

Series: Bears lead 103-75-5 (Last: Oct. 3, 2021 — (at) Bears 24, Lions 14)