Lions Hand Bears First Loss of Season
There weren’t many bettors who predicted the Detroit Lions would compete for the top spot in the NFC North in 2013, but after a huge week-four victory over the previously unbeaten Chicago Bears, the Motown boys find themselves tied for first place with legitimate playoff aspirations.
The Detroit defense forced four turnovers from Jay Cutler and Reggie Bush rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown in his return from injury as the Lions topped the Bears 40-32 on Sunday, sending both teams to a 3-1 record. The win marked Detroit’s second straight victory and second in the conference this season.
While Matthew Stafford enjoyed a productive day throwing the football (242 yards), Detroit’s 2013 addition – the dual-threat Bush – hurt the Bears most as the Lions jumped out to a 30-10 advantage after scoring 27 points in the second quarter. Chicago rallied in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late for the Bears, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Despite the loss, Chicago’s coaching staff was happy with the effort its guys exerted in the comeback attempt.
“There are no moral victories, but I thought our guys played tough for the last 30 minutes of that game,” Chicago coach Mark Trestman said, according to ESPN.com.
Of course, there are no moral victories for bettors either, especially for the ones who had Chicago covering yesterday. In the Bears’ loss, bettors saw a turnover-plagued Bears team they are plenty familiar with, while getting a glimpse of an explosive Lions offense that could convert some potential bandwagon jumpers. With Bush in the backfield, the Lions are certainly a more potent scoring team, but only time will tell if they are a true contender in the NFC this season.
Meanwhile, bettors should consider the Bears a contender, but as always, the turnovers are an issue in Chicago and could prevent the Bears from making the playoffs. Their defense is stout and they have plenty of offensive weapons, but before you put your wagers on the Bears to cover, remember that their gunslinger often shoots himself and his team in the foot.
