Lions Trump Bears to Takeover Sole Possession of First in NFC North
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Leon Halip /Getty Images(CHICAGO) — Calvin Johnson had two touchdown and grabs, and the Detroit Lions defense stopped what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion with :40 seconds to go in the game, as the Lions trump the Chicago Bears 21-19 Sunday.
With the win, Detroit (6-3) takes over sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
“We came out with a victory on the road against a really tough team,” Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz said. “It was a hard-fought win. Proud of the players, but that’s the only thing that means (something) today.
“I mean first place, you don’t get any prizes for first place there nine games into the season.”
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who hadn’t played since tearing his groin on Oct. 20, threw for 250 yards and a touchdown, but had to be pulled late in the game due to a left ankle injury.
“I just didn’t feel like I made some of the throws I wanted to make. Couldn’t move around, couldn’t be as mobile. As the game went on, towards those last drives, I tried to step up, normally I want to run out of there, couldn’t do it.”
Josh McCown replaced Cutler on the Bears’ final offensive drive of the game. McCown led the Bears on a 66-yard drive that ended with Brandon Marshall catching an 11-yard touchdown to make the score 21-19. Then, due to a roughing the passer penalty on Detroit, Chicago received two attempts at making a two-point conversion, but the Bears couldn’t convert.
On his second touchdown catch, Calvin Johnson moved past Herman Moore as the teams’ all-time leader in that touchdowns caught.
The win means the Lions have swept the Bears (5-4) in their season series for the first time since 2007.
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