Lions Top Bears in NFC North Action
The Detroit Lions did what the Chicago Bears did a week ago. They picked up a huge road win in the NFC North. By beating the Bears 21-19, the Lions improved to 6-3 and moved a game ahead of the Bears and the Green Bay Packers, who the Bears beat on the road last week, at 5-4.
The Bears coach Mark Trestman is taking criticism for perhaps bringing starting quarterback Jay Cutler back from injury too soon. That criticism is a bit unfair though. If you are a head coach and your starting quarterback says he can play, it is very difficult to bench him. Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was ripped for not pulling his starter, Robert Griffin III in last year’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. But Griffin repeatedly told his coach he could play.
The Packers are a good case in pint as to why you play your starter if he says he can go. Last week the Bears knocked out Aaron Rodgers with a broken collarbone. The Packers lost that game at home and then lost this week to the Philadelphia Eagles at home as well. Green Bay likely doesn’t lose those game with a healthy Rodgers.
In the Lions win, Matthew Stafford hooked up with Calvin Johnson for two touchdowns including the game winner with just over 2:00 remaining. Reggie Bush had a good game with 105 yards rushing for the Lions. Cutler threw for 250 yards going 21-40 with one touchdown and one interception. Though he was clearly not 100%, he still played well enough to give his team a chance to win.
The Packers lost their backup quarterback Seneca Wallace to injury and were left with the third stringer, Scott Tolzien. Tolzien threw a critical interception with the Packers in the red zone that was returned 83 yards to set up a Philadelphia score.
With all three teams within a game of the lead, this sets up quite a finish. This season, the annual Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit will be a big one between the Lions and the Packers. Before that however, the Lions still have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have to guard against looking ahead. Should they wind up tied with the Bears, the Lions have the tie-breaker advantage thanks to their season sweep of Chicago.
The Bears have the defending champion Baltimore Ravens and the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings in the next three weeks. The schedule and the fact that they are the only team with a healthy starting quarterback makes the Lions the favorite to win the NFC North right now.
