Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, November 28, 2024 ~ For the first time in more than seven years, the Detroit Lions (11-1) are victorious on Thanksgiving Day, winning 23-20. In the team’s first ever 11-1 start to a season, the Lions were elevated by two touchdown catches from tight end Sam LaPorta to keep the Chicago Bears (4-8) at bay.
“You grow up on Thanksgiving in my family, you watch football,” LaPorta told WJR Correspondent Nick Lundberg after the game. “It’s really cool knowing that people are enjoying their meals and their families while watching the Lions win.”
Detroit’s offense was on a roll for most of the game, but stalled out a couple times in the red zone. Kicker Jake Bates was mostly successful in these moments, only missing one field goal out of four attempts. The 48-yard try was his first miss out of 20 this season.
Despite not having offensive lineman Taylor Decker, Detroit played well up front. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for 175 rushing yards. Quarterback Jared Goff had a clean game as well, passing for 221 yards to complement his two touchdowns.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
The @Lions have won 10-straight games, tying their single-season franchise record-long streak set in 1934.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/uyBQFOvxZv
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 28, 2024
(CONTINUED) Chicago failed to move the ball much at all in the first half, going three-and-out multiple times. With a mix of costly penalties they committed, their offense could not find much momentum until the beginning of the second half.
Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen made a couple of big plays in the final 30 minutes, scoring two touchdowns both in the early parts of each quarter.
Fellow Chicago receiver D.J. Moore also put his name in the scoring column with a deep touchdown to keep the game within a field goal in the last five minutes.
A Jack Fox punt downed at the one-yard one, three sacks, and multiple errors through penalties and clock management from the Bears coaching staff helped the Lions to pull out the victory in the final possession. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith recorded 1.5 sacks on the final drive to help increase the pressure that all came down to the final play as quarterback Caleb Williams threw an incomplete pass while the game clock struck zero.
Detroit will be back at Ford Field next Thursday for an NFC North showdown with the Packers.
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