In what was a rough go of things for the Lions for 80% of their game against the Bears, they were able to keep things close enough to secure an eventual win.
The Cardiac Lions earned their eighth win of the season and are off to their best start since 1962. While there is no Cuban Missile Crisis during this 8-2 run, there are certainly different reasons to be concerned from a football sense.
The Bears were expected to be a much easier opponent for the Lions, but instead the division rival played up to their competition and didn’t roll over. Justin Fields was a playmaker for them on offense and made the Lions’ front seven look like Swiss cheese. Despite that, some players on defense stood out.
Studs and duds occur every week; this is no different.
Dud: Jared Goff
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has looked to be part of every week this season for the team. He was due to have a down week at some point this season but this was a monumental disaster performance from the veteran passer. Goff had a season-high three interceptions and could not get the offense going at all in the first half. Halftime adjustments took some time to work but like novocaine, they eventually set in and allowed the Lions to secure a win. Goff can have this performance in the regular season but something like this in the playoffs and it will be a quick postseason for the Lions.
Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs continued his hot streak of production with another strong performance. He was able to put together 95 total yards in 16 touches while finding the endzone once. Both he and David Montgomery were the one constant in a day full of turmoil for the Lions’ offense. When all else fails Gibbs has shown he is more than capable of making a play.
Dud: Craig Reynolds
In a game like today’s one play can get lost in the shuffle. Special teams especially can be seen as a toss-away part of today’s NFL with the rules surrounding it but today it mattered. Craig Reynolds committed about the worst thing you could do on a kickoff which was fumble it. For Reynolds, the blunder may get lost in media with the win happening but this week during film review and practice it will discussed heavily.
Stud: David Montgomery
We highlighted David Montgomery earlier but he played well enough in a grudge game to earn his own slide. The former Bear earned 98 total yards on 14 touches including the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He played things off like they were nothing all week but when the lights turned on he didn’t shy away from them.
Dud: Defensive Front Seven
The Lions at one point had not allowed a 100-yard rushing total for a team through a significant portion of their schedule. On Sunday the Bears were able to secure 183 yards rushing with 104 of it coming from Justin Fields. The team will be facing dual-threat quarterbacks in the playoffs such as Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott so they need to take this week’s hard lesson and grow from it so it doesn’t happen in the playoffs.
Stud: Alex Anzalone
The defensive front was less than ideal but one player did stand out in Alex Anzalone. The former Florida Gator may have played angrily after watching his alma mater come so close to a top-ten upset or perhaps he continued a strong season he had carved out through 10 weeks prior. The Lions linebacking group lacks “star power” but Anzalone and his 15-tackle performance deserve your attention and respect.
